Today, American Airlines announced that the airline is updating and enhancing cleaning procedures and will begin providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to customers as part of its response to coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition, the airline will begin requiring flight attendants to wear masks starting May 1st.
Enhanced Cleaning Procedures
Starting in early May, American Airlines will enhance cleaning procedures on all mainline aircraft on longer stopovers. According to the carrier:
This cleaning will use a disinfectant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and includes:
- In customer areas, tray tables, seatbelt buckles, armrests, window shades and seatback screens. It also includes wiping door and overhead bin handles.
- In team member areas, enhanced galley cleaning, jumpseats and crew rest seats. The new enhancements add cockpit surfaces as well.
These measures build on new and expanded cleaning procedures American added in early March, including additional touchpoints in the cabin, increased provisioning of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for crew members, and expanded fogging with an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant in all public areas on aircraft.
American says it will also be expanding deeper cleanings and disinfection on regional flights. These enhancements are in addition to cleaning practices that have always met or exceeded all guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) according to the airline.
All mainline and most regional aircraft were already equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. That means cabin air in all aircraft change approximately 15 to 30 times per hour, or once every two to four minutes, a similar standard to hospitals according to the carrier.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Passengers
Starting in early May, American will begin offering sanitizing wipes or gels and face masks to customers. The airline notes that the “offering will expand to all flights as supplies and operational conditions allow.” Sounds like they have some supply and operational issues to sort out before they can deploy the service to every flight.
American Airlines has added drawers in the galley containing personal protective equipment including masks and other sanitizing items for flight attendants and pilots.
Masks for Flight Attendants
Starting May 1, American will require flight attendants to wear masks on both mainline and regional flights. To accommodate this, the airline has added drawers in the galley containing personal protective equipment including masks and other sanitizing items for flight attendants and pilots.
The Upshot
American’s announcements are some of the latest changes made by airlines to make customers comfortable in the wake of Covid–19. American Airlines released a video detailing the new procedures. Interestingly, the video uses the same “You Are Why We Fly” tagline as its recent brand video which the airline says is not its new slogan.
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2 comments
How long before they charge for the PPE? First class passengers get complimentary face masks and sanitary wipes, Main Cabin Extra only get complimentary sanitary wipes. Economy passengers can pay $100 for a combo pack that includes a face mask and sanitary wipes. Basic Economy passengers are too unsanitary and are not allowed to fly in a post-Covid-19 environment.
The concern for me is not the cleanliness of the plane but that We might have some of Numpty’s zombies on the plane who have not practiced physical distancing out of principle.