WASHINGTON (AFP) – American Airlines resumed trying to fill its planes to full capacity on Wednesday (July 1), abandoning some coronavirus precautions and drawing criticism from public health officials as the pandemic runs wild in parts of America.

While other carriers such as Delta Air Lines decided in May to keep some seats empty so travellers could practice social distancing, others like United Airlines had not taken such measures because at that point no one was flying anyway.

The decision by American Airlines comes as steps to reopen the US economy coincide with a major surge in Covid-19 cases.

Robert Redfield, the director of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, told lawmakers this week the American Airlines decision had caused “substantial disappointment.”

“We don’t think it’s the right message,” he told a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top expert on infectious diseases, also criticised the decision as he warned that the country could reach 100,000 new virus cases a day if more is not done to suppress the pandemic.

“Obviously, that is something that is of concern. I’m not sure what went into that decision making,” he said at the same Senate hearing.

“I think in the confines of an airplane that becomes even more problematic.”

AIR AS CLEAN AS IN HOSPITALS

The virus has claimed more than 127,000 lives in the US and as of Tuesday night it had recorded more than 42,000 new cases in the previous 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.

Because of the sharp rise in deaths and cases of infection, particularly in the south and west, some states have put the reopening of their economies on pause.

American Airlines appears to be moving in the opposite direction when it comes to coronavirus precautions.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to the safety and well-being of our customers and team members,” a company official told AFP.

He said American has “multiple layers of protection” for passengers including required face coverings, enhanced cleaning procedures, and a “pre-flight Covid-19 symptom checklist.”

The company is also suggesting that customers change their travel plans, at no cost until Sept 30, when they are informed that their flight will be full.

Delta said on Friday it will continue to block off middle seats until that same date. Southwest Airlines has taken a similar decision.

A United Airlines spokesman slammed the idea as a “PR strategy”, however, pointing out that it does not allow for six feet (1.8m) of space between each passenger.

Other carriers such as JetBlue and Frontier also continue to limit their passenger loads.

Airlines have been devastated as people stopped flying due to international travel restrictions, so carriers are eager to fill domestic routes.

American Airlines defends itself saying it hand-cleans its aircraft thoroughly, including “seat buckles, seats, tray tables and other surfaces.”

Like other carriers it says it applies an electrostatic spray inside the aircraft every seven days which “kills 99.9999 per cent of viruses and bacteria within 10 minutes,” according to the company official.

He said American is the only network airline that uses a product on a government-issued environmental safety list that provides continued seven-day protection against bacteria, mold, and viruses including the one that causes Covid-19.

And the air filtration system on American planes changes the air completely every two to four minutes, similar to the standard for hospitals, this official said.

Asked by AFP about the lack of overall rules for flying, the Federal Aviation Administration said it has been “clear that passengers should wear face coverings while travelling by air, for their own protection and the protection of those around them.”

It said it expects people to follow precautions recommended by the CDC and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

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