Union Repping Alaska, Frontier, Spirit, and United Demand DoT Mandate Masks

And... just when you thought it might soon be safe to fly the friendly skies again... comes a Flight Attendant's Union demand for masking all passengers.

A letter to SecTrans Elaine Chao and HHS Secretary Alex Azar by Sara Nelson, International President of The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) is the latest move to seek government control over what we do and how we do it... no matter how well intended it appears to be.

The letter notes that. "Since flight attendant ability to practice social distancing is challenging in the aircraft cabin and on most other forms of public transportation, it is essential that we wear masks as often as possible so long as COVID-19 remains a threat to public health. In addition, passengers on all modes of public transport should be encouraged to wear masks in the short term and mandated by emergency regulation as soon as practicable. This will further minimize risks to themselves, the public transport workforce on which they are reliant, and our healthcare infrastructure, which must cope with the surge of infected patients unless we curb the spread. Seven U.S. states now
require wearing masks in public.

More to the point of transportation specifically, Canada encourages the use of masks on all modes of public transport and requires all air travelers to wear masks that 'cover their mouth and nose … at screening checkpoints, … when they cannot physically distance from others, or as directed by the airline employees; and when directed to do so by a public health order or public health official.' International air travel has long sought to harmonize procedures for one level of safety to ensure consistency and best practices for operators and passengers."

The AFA letter doubles down by demanding that, "...we call on lawmakers and regulators to take further action to limit the spread of the virus by restricting air travel to only that necessary to continue essential services. Airlines are continuing to deliver people, mail, and cargo, uniting families that are grieving or rushing to be with those who have fallen ill, and transporting others who require medical treatment unrelated to the pandemic. These are some of the many essential services provided by aviation to all of our communities – large and small - that must be maintained as the pandemic continues. We believe that protecting this essential service and ensuring air travel is not aiding in spread of the virus requires a halt to all leisure travel until the pandemic is brought under control according to health authorities. We appreciate the swift steps DOT has taken to put in place a process for airlines to request exemptions on flights that do not assist materially in the essential service to our communities. We believe we can all do more together and will work for a brief anti-trust exemption so DOT can coordinate a schedule with airlines to continue essential service only. In addition, we request messaging from all leadership to encourage the public to end leisure travel until we have 'flattened the curve.'"

More info to follow...

FMI: https://www.afacwa.org/