Fed-up airlines ban booze
American Airlines won’t be serving alcohol in coach until at least the fall after “deeply disturbing” incidents aboard aircraft during the pandemic, according to a report.
“Flight attendants are on the front lines every day, not only ensuring our customers’ safety, but are also calming fears, answering questions and enforcing policies like federally required face masks,” said a memo sent out on Saturday by Brady Byrnes, the airline’s’ managing director of flight service.
“Over the past week, we’ve seen some of these stressors create deeply disturbing situations on board aircraft.
“Let me be clear: American Airlines will not tolerate assault or mistreatment of our crews.”
But the airline will reportedly still serve alcohol to businessand first-class passengers.
The decision comes after an unruly passenger knocked out a Southwest Airlines flight attendant’s teeth after a dispute involving a mask on a flight from Sacramento to San Diego.
Southwest said Friday it would not resume in-flight alcohol service, according to NBC.
Incidents of passengers misbehaving have skyrocketed in 2021 — mostly due to fliers who refuse to wear masks, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The agency receives no more than 150 complaints about unruly passengers during an average year — but has received 2,500 already in 2021, including 1,900 involving passengers eschewing masks.