Airline suspended in-flight services to avoid having passengers remove their masks while eating or drinking
04 February 2022 - 09:36
byAkriti Sharma and Shivani Tanna
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Bengaluru — Southwest Airlines will resume alcohol sales on its flights this month after nearly two years, the Texas-based carrier said on Thursday, a pause it extended last year due to a surge in in-flight disruptions by passengers.
US airlines during the Covid-19 pandemic had mostly suspended in-flight services on domestic flights to avoid having passengers remove their masks while eating or drinking.
Southwest, which had paused alcohol services in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, said that it would resume the sale of the beverages on February 16.
The beverages would include wine, vodka, tequila, rum, on most of its flights of 285km or more. The airline also said it will add a new line-up of nonalcoholic beverages such as tonic water, apple juice, Coke Zero, Dr Pepper, tea and cocoa.
“Customers have expressed a desire for more beverage options,” Tony Roach, vice-president customer experience and customer relations, said in a statement.
The union, which represents Southwest Airlines’ flight attendants, said the move is “both unsafe and irresponsible”.
“TWU Local 556 is outraged at Southwest Airlines’ resumption of alcohol sales,” Lyn Montgomery, president of TWU Local 556 said in a statement when contacted by Reuters.
“We have adamantly and unequivocally informed management that resuming sales of alcohol while the mask mandate is in place has the great potential to increase customer non-compliance and misconduct issues.”
Southwest did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment on the union’s statement.
Southwest’s decision to extend the pause on alcohol services last year came after an incident where a passenger assaulted a flight attendant verbally and physically, during a flight from Sacramento to San Diego.
US airlines have reported a record number of disruptive and sometimes violent incidents in 2021, and the US Federal Aviation Administration has pledged a “zero-tolerance” approach towards unruly air passengers.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Southwest Airlines to serve alcohol again
Airline suspended in-flight services to avoid having passengers remove their masks while eating or drinking
Bengaluru — Southwest Airlines will resume alcohol sales on its flights this month after nearly two years, the Texas-based carrier said on Thursday, a pause it extended last year due to a surge in in-flight disruptions by passengers.
US airlines during the Covid-19 pandemic had mostly suspended in-flight services on domestic flights to avoid having passengers remove their masks while eating or drinking.
Southwest, which had paused alcohol services in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, said that it would resume the sale of the beverages on February 16.
The beverages would include wine, vodka, tequila, rum, on most of its flights of 285km or more. The airline also said it will add a new line-up of nonalcoholic beverages such as tonic water, apple juice, Coke Zero, Dr Pepper, tea and cocoa.
“Customers have expressed a desire for more beverage options,” Tony Roach, vice-president customer experience and customer relations, said in a statement.
The union, which represents Southwest Airlines’ flight attendants, said the move is “both unsafe and irresponsible”.
“TWU Local 556 is outraged at Southwest Airlines’ resumption of alcohol sales,” Lyn Montgomery, president of TWU Local 556 said in a statement when contacted by Reuters.
“We have adamantly and unequivocally informed management that resuming sales of alcohol while the mask mandate is in place has the great potential to increase customer non-compliance and misconduct issues.”
Southwest did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment on the union’s statement.
Southwest’s decision to extend the pause on alcohol services last year came after an incident where a passenger assaulted a flight attendant verbally and physically, during a flight from Sacramento to San Diego.
US airlines have reported a record number of disruptive and sometimes violent incidents in 2021, and the US Federal Aviation Administration has pledged a “zero-tolerance” approach towards unruly air passengers.
Reuters
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