Air Mobility Command today temporarily suspended most Space-Available travel aboard AMC and contracted aircraft, except for certain Category I, IV, and VI travel, effective March 21 in order to limit the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread and its impact on the force.
The temporary suspension remains in effect through May 11.
Travelers under certain categories, including service members and dependents on emergency leave and Wounded Warriors, remain eligible for Space-Available travel, as noted in the table below. However, travel via Space-Available is never guaranteed and, as always, travel is available only on a space-available basis.
At the recommendation of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command leadership, Hon. Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, authorized the temporary suspension in order to increase force health protection measures and decrease risk to the Department of Defense mission amidst the outbreak.
Medical screening protocols still apply for all travelers.
All other categories of Space-A travel are ineligible for travel consideration. These limitations are necessary to preserve force readiness, limit the continuing spread of COVID-19, and preserve the health and welfare of everyone.
Space-A travel aboard AMC and contracted aircraft is afforded to eligible DoD personnel, their eligible dependents, retirees, and other eligible passengers.
This measure is designed to stem the transmission of the Coronavirus, and will significantly reduce threats to mission and force, by reducing the possibility that aircrew or screeners at passenger terminals may come into contact with those who may have contracted the virus.
"Our focus remains on force health protection, and this temporary suspension of Space-A travel represents a sensible course of action to increase force health protection measures, while simultaneously decreasing risk to mission from COVID-19," said Lord. "This move enables our DoD and contract aircrew and passenger terminal personnel to focus on sustaining the warfighter and assuring the accomplishment of the DoD mission."
