American Airlines Boeing 787 at Dublin International Airport
100 American Airlines flight attendants have tested positive for the coronavirus. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants has disclosed the figure to its membership stating that the airline has ‘agreed to start providing face masks for frontline team members while at work should you choose to wear them.’ The Association is representing 27,000 flight attendants. The union has also announced that masks are being distributed.
“We have consistently advocated for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all of our flight attendants to be available on every aircraft, for social distancing between passengers and crew jump seats, for thermal scanning in the airports, and to receive immediate notification of flight attendants who have tested positive for the virus," stated the APFA president, Julie Hedrick. "Flight attendants are aviation's first responders, who are transporting medical personnel and supplies into COVID-19 hotspots, and they need to be treated and protected as such."
Hedrick said on Tuesday that since January, the union has been trying to get the company to provide protective equipment. The airline hasn’t made any direct comments about the unions claims on the flight attendants testing positive for the virus.
“The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority," the airline's statement announced. "We are in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health officials and are coordinating with them on any required health and safety related measures. We continue to look at all ways we can care -- and protect -- our team during this stressful time."
The airline has plans for major cuts in staff. One in four flight attendants will be working in May. They will only be receiving minimum wage for the upcoming months. The airline will be prevented from involuntary furlough for the next 6 months. This will be a part of their plan to act on their coronavirus relief act that is expected to give $25 billion in grants to the airline.
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