The following information is courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Disclosure on Aircraft Disinsection Requirements
Disinsection is permitted under international law in order to protect public health, agriculture and the environment. The World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization stipulate two approaches for aircraft disinsection— (1) spray the aircraft cabin with an aerosolized insecticide while passengers are on board or (2) or spray or treat the aircraft's interior surfaces with a residual insecticide (residual method) while passengers are not on board. American Samoa has adopted a third method, in which aircraft are sprayed with an aerosolized insecticide while passengers are not on board.
Although the Report of the Informal Consultation on Aircraft Disinsection sponsored by the World Health Organization (November 6-10, 1995) concluded that aircraft disinsection, if performed appropriately, would not present a risk to human health, the report also noted that some individuals may experience transient discomfort following aircraft disinsection by aerosol application.
Under the Chicago Convention, which governs international civil aviation, a country could impose a disinsection requirement should they perceive a threat to their public health, agriculture or environment. Accordingly, travelers are advised to check with their travel agent or airline reservations agent when booking flights or if they have questions about their final destination's policy. Listed below are representatives of airlines who are knowledgeable on disinsection requirements.
Airline Contacts for Information on Disinsection
Alaska Airlines
Ben Reed
206-392-7866
Ben.Reed@alaskaair.com
American Airlines
Ryan Correa
817-967-6006
Ryan.Correa@aa.com
Delta Airlines
Steve Tochilin
404-715-3303
Steve.Tochilin@delta.com
Hawaiian Airlines
Bruce Schlieman
808-835-3338
Bruce.Schlieman@hawaiianair.com
JetBlue Airways
Adam Schless
202-715-2557
Adam.Schless@jetblue.com
Spirit Airlines
Kirsten Mitchell
954-364-0166
Kirsten.Mitchell@spirit.com
Southwest Airlines
Adam Walters
214-792-4615
adam.walters@wnco.com
John Andrus
214-792-6201
John.Andrus@wnco.com
United Airlines
John Kloosterman
872-825-8556
John.kloosterman@united.com
The following provides general information about disinsection requirements. Note: Policies of other countries are changing. We continue to work to ensure that this list is accurate and up to date.
Countries requiring the disinsection of all in-bound flights with an aerosolized spray while passengers are on board:
- Ecuador (only Galapagos and Interislands)
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Kiribati
- Madagascar
- Panama
- Seychelles
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
- Zimbabwe
Countries requiring the disinsection of all in-bound flights but allowing, as an alternative to the above approach, either (a) the residual method or (b) the application of an aerosolized spray while passengers are not on board
Country |
Method |
---|---|
Australia |
Residual |
Barbados |
Residual |
Cook Islands |
Residual |
Fiji |
Residual |
Jamaica |
Residual |
New Zealand |
Residual |
Countries that require disinsection of selected flights:
Country |
Flight From |
---|---|
Czech Republic |
Areas of contagious diseases |
Egypt |
Zika-infested countries |
France |
Areas of malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever |
Indonesia |
Infected areas |
Italy |
All aircraft coming from areas affected by Zika virus transmission and areas where the Aedes aegypti carrier is present |
Mauritius |
Generally, flights coming from African continent, Asia and sub regions, the Middle East and islands of the Indian Ocean, and flights coming from any other country where mosquito borne diseases are prevalent |
Macau |
Flights from major infectious disease/Zika-infested countries |
Palau |
Non-US carriers from Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand |
Peru |
Some in-country flights |
Republic of Korea |
30 countries, not including the United States |
South Africa |
Areas of malaria or yellow fever |
Switzerland |
Intertropical Africa |
Taiwan |
Incoming flights from areas with arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus |
Tanzania |
Zika-infected countires |
Thailand |
Areas of yellow fever |
United Kingdom |
Malarial countries and countries with confirmed transmission of Zika (Voluntary until August 1, 2016) |
Information on Carrying Mosquito Repellants
For travelers who wish to carry insect repellents with them, the Federal Aviation Administration's website for airline passengers and crew on hazardous materials (http://www.faa.gov/Go/PackSafe) includes detailed information on the rules and exceptions for "Mosquito repellent, insect repellent."