American Airlines extends alcohol ban in fundamental cabin by Jan. 18 — when federal masks mandate expires

American Airlines this week prolonged its suspension of home fundamental cabin alcohol gross sales by Jan. 18 an effort to curb unruly traveler habits that has surged this year.

American in May stated it might hold off on resuming alcohol service in the principle cabin by Sept. 13, when a federal masks mandate for air journey and different modes of transportation was set to run out. The Transportation Security Administration, nonetheless, this week extended the federal mask requirement for transportation by Jan. 18 as instances of the extremely contagious delta variant of Covid-19 proceed to unfold.

“We are doing all we can to help create a safe environment for our crew and customers onboard our aircraft,” Stacey Frantz, American’s senior supervisor of flight service insurance policies, wrote in a workers observe Wednesday.

Southwest Airlines additionally stated in May that it delayed a resumption of alcohol gross sales on board after considered one of its flight attendants suffered accidents to her face and misplaced two enamel when she was assaulted by a passenger, based on her union. A spokesman for the provider stated the airline hasn’t established a date when to renew alcohol gross sales.

Frantz stated American can be “gaining ground” in its work with the Federal Aviation Administration to cease to-go alcohol gross sales at its hubs at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. The airports did not instantly remark.

The FAA earlier this month urged airport operators to remind vacationers that they can’t convey alcohol on board flights.

“Our investigations show that alcohol often contributes to this unsafe behavior,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson wrote to airport officers on Aug. 3. “The FAA requests that airports work with their concessionaires to help avoid this.”