1.23.20 – President of American Airlines Flight Attendants’ Union Calls for Airlines to Increase Precautions Around Deadly Coronavirus

EULESS, TEXAS – As the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the world, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), the union representing more than 27,000 Flight Attendants at American Airlines, is urging airlines to step up precautionary actions to protect both flight crew and passengers.

Specifically, APFA is calling on American Airlines—and all other airlines— to institute immediate emergency measures, including providing crew members the latest information regarding the 2019-nCoV outbreak, identifying the signs and symptoms of illness in oneself and others, and practical procedures to manage potentially ill persons.

Lori Bassani, National President of APFA, is calling on the airlines to use all available information from relevant U.S. authorities including the CDC, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and international authorities including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“The health of our crew members and passengers is a top priority for us and we refuse to compromise their health or safety in any way,” said President Bassani. “I am urging American Airlines and all airlines to do everything humanly possible to contain the outbreak and minimize any chance of exposure. We will continue to speak out to ensure airlines are erring on the side of caution and putting our members’ health first in these dangerous times.”

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