The president of the Association of Flight Attendants has called on a halt to all leisure travel to protect those working on aircraft from COVID-19.
Sara Nelson said, “We’ve had personal protective equipment issues and supply chain issues, where our airlines are actually not able to get the supplies to get on our planes.”
The intervention is significant because the union is the largest representing airline staff in the US, with more than 50,000 members.
According to Point Me to the Plane, Nelson has claimed more than 100 flight attendants have tested positive for coronavirus, and one has died.
And in a call with the media, organised by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organisations, Nelson said, “We’re calling on a co-ordinated government response, we’re calling on all our airlines, and we’re also calling for leadership from DOT and FAA on advising the public that we do not need any leisure travel right now.”
In Australia alone, 50 Qantas Group staff have now tested positive for coronavirus, including 11 Adelaide Airport baggage handlers.
While passengers are required to self-isolate for 14 days after landing in a hotel, airline staff are exempt. So far, 11 crew members who didn’t quarantine have tested positive.
