MARCH 23, 2020 – 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.”
For additional information on Space-Available Travel, visit Air Mobility Command’s Travel website online at https://www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/
Space-Available Travel Opportunities Unaffected by Temporary Suspension
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Category I – Emergency Leave Unfunded Travel. Transportation by the most expeditious routing only for bona fide immediate family emergencies, as determined by DoDI 1327.06 and Military Service regulations. This travel privilege will not be used in lieu of funded travel entitlements. |
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Item |
Traveler’s Status and Circumstance |
CONUS to CONUS |
OCONUS to OCONUS |
C-O / O-C |
|
1 |
Wounded Warriors traveling on leave will be offered seats on OSA aircraft on a space-available basis before any other potential space-available passenger. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2 |
Immediate family members of Wounded Warriors who possess a valid DoD identification card when accompanying Wounded Warriors to their destination on OSA aircraft. |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
3 |
Uniformed services members with emergency status indicated in leave orders. |
Yes |
|
|
|
4 |
Dependents of members of the uniformed services when accompanied by their sponsors and traveling in Category I status. |
Yes |
|
|
|
5 |
Unaccompanied dependents of members of the uniformed services who are assigned and domiciled in the CONUS. |
|
|
Yes |
|
6 |
Non-command-sponsored dependents of members of the uniformed services, residing OCONUS with the sponsor; one-way only to emergency destination. |
|
Yes |
C-O: No / O-C: Yes |
|
7 |
(1) Command-sponsored dependents of members of the uniformed Services; (2) DoD civilians and their command- sponsored dependents; (3) ARC full-time, paid personnel serving with a DoD Component OCONUS; (4) NAF personnel whose travel from the CONUS, Alaska, or Hawaii was incident to a PCS assignment at NAF expense. |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Category IV |
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|
27 |
Uniformed services member retirees residing in commonwealths and U.S. possessions traveling to obtain certain health care services (medical or dental) and one dependent of the individual, if needed to accompany the individual. |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
28 |
Diego Garcia TCN direct hire employees. Transportation is to and from the nearest intermediate destination serviced by commercial aircraft. |
|
Yes |
|
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Category VI |
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44 |
American Samoa veterans residing in America Samoa traveling to and from Hawaii for hospital care from the VA facility in Hawaii. |
To/From Hawaii only |
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|
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48 |
Individuals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as identified in Section 4.8.p. of this issuance. Such passengers will be at the bottom of the Category VI sign-up register. |
To/From Cuba |
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