#Roommates, apparently American Airlines is over social distancing and has decided to get back to business as usual despite coronavirus cases continuing to spike. According to reports, American Airlines is set to go back to booking flights to full capacity and ending its efforts to practice social distancing.
@LATimes reports, beginning on July 1st American Airlines plans to resume selling flights to full capacity—officially abandoning the reduced passenger flights that were initially implemented to promote social distancing following the COVID-19 pandemic. The company will notify customers when they’re booked on crowded flights and allow them the option of moving their reservations at no extra cost. Additionally, customers on flights will be asked to verify that they have been free of COVID-19 symptoms for the previous 14 days.
The decision for American Airlines to resume booking flights to full capacity is definitely causing controversy, due to the recent new spike in coronavirus cases. Texas, Arizona and North Carolina have major American Airlines carrier operations—and have also seen some of the biggest increases in new cases.
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Ross Feinstein, an American Airlines spokesman addressed the new flight measures this way:
“That was before we had extensive cleaning initiatives, face mask requirements and an extension of waivers for customers. That’s the reasoning we ultimately feel it’s safe and prudent to lift these restrictions as of July 1.”
American Airlines Chief Executive Doug Parker also explained that long-term social distancing on planes is not exactly logical:
“Social distancing is not something we can provide very well as an airline. No airline can. You can say you’re not going to sell the middle seat, but you’re not six feet away from the person at the window or on the aisle, certainly not six feet away from the person ahead of you or behind you.”
Meanwhile, Delta and Southwest are continuing efforts to implement social distancing on flights.
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