American Airlines, the largest US airline, has joined Southwest Airlines in suspending the resumption of the sale of alcoholic beverages on flights after passengers beat a stewardess on a Southwest Airlines flight last week.
With the progress of COVID-19 vaccination in the United States, the travel boom among Americans is recovering, and so is the unruly behavior of passengers.
Last week, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant was attacked and knocked out two teeth by a passenger who was arrested after the plane landed.
Southwest Airlines, which was scheduled to resume alcohol sales on flights in June, announced an indefinite extension on Friday, saying that "in view of the increase in passenger interference on flights, it has decided to reassess when to restart the supply of alcoholic beverages on the plane."
American Airlines also announced on Saturday that it would extend the ban on alcohol sales, which was scheduled to be lifted on Tuesday, until at least Sept. 14, when the U.S. government's requirement to wear masks on aircraft ends.
American Airlines said: "over the past week, we have seen some stressors creating a very disturbing situation on the plane." We have made it clear that American Airlines will not tolerate attacks or ill-treatment of our crew. "
"every day, we encounter verbal and sometimes physical attacks, mainly around wearing masks," Julie Hendrik (Julie Hendrick), president of the (Association of Professional Flight Attendants) of the American Professional flight attendants Association, said in a statement on Saturday. This quarrel often intensifies when passengers drink at the airport or bring alcoholic beverages on board. Obviously, now is not the time to resume alcohol sales. "
The Federal Aviation Administration ((FAA)) said on Monday that it had received about 2500 reports of unruly passengers so far this year, including about 1900 cases in which passengers refused to wear masks as required. Typically, there are about 100 to 150 reports of passengers behaving unruly each year.
U. S. Transportation Secretary Peter Boutigig (Pete Buttigieg) on Sunday urged passengers to abide by the rules and respect flight attendants.
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it would impose fines of up to $15000 each on five passengers who recently attacked flight attendants or refused to carry out flight attendant orders.
It was reported earlier this year that about 3000 people have been banned from flying since the mask ban was imposed last year.