A charity is bringing airline employees together to help healthcare workers by opening airport lounges in two New York City hospitals that have been hard hit by COVID-19.

Project Wingman USA launched on Friday, opening its first two lounges for frontline healthcare heroes at Flushing and Jamaica Hospitals. In these lounges, crew members serve healthcare workers snacks and (nonalcoholic) drinks while offering peer support.

Described as a place where “doctors and nurses can come during, after or before their shift to relax for a bit and enjoy a beverage, snack and a chat — all to take their mind off COVID-19,” the group’s motto is: “First class service for healthcare staff”

Local cabin crew and uniformed pilots are being asked to volunteer here, and the project is hoping to expand to other hard-hit cities in the future. So far, employees from Norwegian Air, JetBlue, Spirit, Delta, United, Endeavor and American Airlines have signed up for service.

According to the group’s website, the project was launched in London’s Whittington Hospital “earlier this month by two pilots, easyJet’s Emma Henderson and British Airway’s Dave Fielding” who were immediately joined by volunteers from Norwegian, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet.

“If you are airline crew with transferable skills, you can volunteer and help support the doctors and nurses working on the frontline to save patients of COVID-19,” the site notes. “You will help create a First Class environment for the hardworking health care professionals to relax and wind down… Your time and skills are extremely valuable in this setting.”

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