Southwest’s CEO tests positive for the coronavirus after a Senate hearing

The CE of Southwest, Gary Kelly, tested positive for the coronavirus after appearing at a Senate hearing with other airline industry officials this week, the company confirmed on Friday. Kelly tested negative several times before attending the hearing on Wednesday, but received a positive result after returning home and experiencing mild symptoms. Kelly, who is 66, is fully vaccinated, has received a booster shot and is resting at home, Southwest said. Kelly appeared before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday to discuss the impact of billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid to the airline industry. He was joined in person by Scott Kirby, the CE of United; Doug Parker, CE of American Airlines; John Laughter, the chief of operations at Delta; and Sara Nelson, the head of the Association of Flight Attendants. Each was unmasked for at least part of the hearing. Many senators on the committee also did not wear masks, but they sat further apart from each other. At one point during the hearing, Senator Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi, asked Kelly if passengers would ever be able to travel on planes without masks. “I think the case is very strong that masks don’t add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment,” Mr. Kelly said, praising the air filtration on planes. “It’s very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting.” <br/>