American Airlines has joined Southwest Airlines (LUV) in suspending alcohol services on flights, the airline said Saturday. The decision follows a recent assault of a Southwest flight attendant.
“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 Brady Byrnes, managing director of flight service at American, in a memo to flight attendants obtained by CNN.
“Over the past week we’ve seen some of these stressors create deeply disturbing situations on board aircraft,” the memo said. “Let me be clear: American Airlines will not tolerate assault or mistreatment of our crews.”
Like other airlines, American (AAL) first suspended alcohol sales in March 2020 to minimize interaction between crew and passengers and to ensure safer flights.
The airline said services will remain suspended through September 13. The date coincides with the end of the Transportation Security Administration’s mask mandate for all planes.
American’s extended suspension on alcohol service comes after the airline reinstated beverage services including alcohol on May 1 in all of its domestic premium cabins.
The airline says alcohol will continue to be offered in first and business class cabins but only inflight. Alcohol sales were initially slated to resume on the airline’s main cabin on June 1, but will remain paused.
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