Some American, United, and other flight attendants say they are growing anxious as coronavirus spreads in the US and flight cancellations mount
The ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has led to turmoil for the airline industry.
Business Insider spoke with flight attendants from several different airlines to see how they feel about being on airplanes during the outbreak, now that it's more widespread, and. After all, according to Sara Nelson, head of the Association of Flight Attendants, they're literally "on the front line of any communicable disease."
Are you an airline employee with thoughts on the current situation? Contact this reporter at [email protected]. "I wouldn't describe myself as 'anxious' so much as 'aware,'" one flight attendant for American Airlines said. "In my line of work, you always have to be conscientious about your health, so washing my hands frequently, eating healthy, and trying to get enough sleep is always a priority, and in light of the COVID-19 situation, I am trying to be even more dedicated to these precautions.
"I'm not worried at all," a Chicago-based flight attendant for the airline said. "I'm a data person, and more people die from the flu." "I've never experienced the airline industry being as engaged and proactive as they have been with this," Nelson, the flight attendant union leader, told Business Insider. "So I want to really applaud the airlines."
"They have added extra cleaning procedures for international routes and hand sanitizer has been provided for us as well," another employee for the airline added. "A flight to Asia is like a 30-hour, three-day trip," a Chicago-based flight attendant for American Airlines, who, like everyone who spoke with Business Insider for this article asked not to be named, explained. "Those go very senior because you'd only need to work three trips a month to make a living. A comfortable living at that, when you're at top pay."
"I'm worried though as the virus spreads that hours and flights will be cut," the Spirit employee said. "Especially to international destinations that we serve. It's scary that we may lose a lot of flying." Flight attendants at airlines with a labor contract, including American and United, said that they expected the airline to offer voluntary unpaid leaves if they end up needing fewer workers until demand picks back up. Flight attendants taking those leaves would not be paid, but would continue accruing seniority, would retain benefits including healthcare, and could continue using their employee travel benefits.
"I just really hope enough people take those offers," she said. "Everything is so uncertain right now." "If, like me, you have an interest in internal advancement, calling in sick can come back to haunt you," she said. "How am I supposed to care for myself, my coworkers, and the public without sabotaging my career?""There's very little I can do to prepare for that except try not to be frivolous in my spending, so I'm trying to just go about my life and not assume the worst.
"Domestic flights are still completely full," the United employee said. "However I did notice that Europe flight loads are definitely down. "Business class was still full, but economy wasn't even halfway full. I'm not sure if that's normal for this time of year.""Passenger loads appear mostly the same to me, at least domestically and in the Caribbean," one worker said, noting that she did not typically work on flights to Europe due to seniority.
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