A senior official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday expressed “substantial disappointment” with American Airlines for announcing that it will resume full flights starting Wednesday.
Senator Bernie Sanders, I-VT, asked CDC Director Robert Redfield during a hearing about the coronavirus about the new policy, which was announced Friday.
Redfield told members of Congress that the policy is currently under “critical review” at the agency, as it said it does not send the right message to Americans in the midst of a pandemic.
“Obviously, when they announced that the other day, there was a big disappointment with American Airlines,” he told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions during a hearing about the United States’ efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic. “We don’t think it sends the right message.”
American Airlines said Friday that it will continue to notify passengers when their planes are full and allow them to switch to less crowded flights at no additional cost until September 30. The company said that passengers with flights booked until September 30 can also change their flights, including setting the cities of origin and destination, without incurring a travel change fee, but will have to pay any difference in the fare. .
The American Airlines announcement came as Covid-19 cases continue to rise across the United States. As of Monday, new cases grew 5% or more in at least 40 states, based on an average of seven days, including Arizona, Texas, Florida and Oklahoma, according to CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Airlines are struggling to ensure travelers feel safe flying during the pandemic, as demand remains low. While much higher than the five-decade lows reached in April, the number of people passing through US airport checkpoints remains less than a quarter of the levels seen during June 2019, according to federal data.
Some airlines, such as Delta, Southwest, JetBlue and Frontier, continue to limit capacity on board. United, has not been limiting flight bookings, notifies travelers when their planes are filling up and allows them to book another. American also does that and will continue to do so.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to the safety and well-being of our clients and team members,” American said in a statement to CNBC on Tuesday. “We have multiple layers of protection for those flying with us, including required face covers, improved cleaning procedures, and a pre-flight COVID-19 symptom checklist, and we are providing additional flexibility for customers to change their plans for trip, too. “
Scientists say the virus can be spread through respiratory drops that are passed when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread on surfaces such as airplane seats and tray tables. Scientists and public health officials fear that crowded passengers on an airplane may be a breeding ground for the virus.
Some industry members have warned that physical distancing on airplanes is extremely challenging.
“You can’t use distancing on an airplane like on a supermarket line,” said Nick Calio, CEO of Airlines for America, an industry group representing major American airlines, including American and United.
Major US airlines now require passengers to wear masks and also to answer questions about their health before flying.
Whether it’s a bus, a train, or a plane, social distancing and face coverage are important, Redfield said Tuesday.
– CNBC’s Hannah Miller contributed to this report.
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