The union representing Southwest Airlines flight attendants is blasting the company鈥檚 plans to resume in-flight alcohol sales next week for the first time in nearly two years.
鈥淲hy now? The is scheduled to go through March 18 and that would be a better time to bring alcohol sales back again,鈥� said , president of .
The Dallas-based carrier last week it will restore on-board beverage options for most flights to include liquor, beer and wine starting Feb. 16. Southwest was one of the first U.S. airlines to and other in-flight concessions to mitigate coronavirus transmissions in March 2020.
鈥淢ore assaults [on commercial aircraft] have occurred in the last year than in aviation鈥檚 entire history. It鈥檚 gone up about 3000%,鈥� said Montgomery, adding alcohol consumption has been a contributing factor in many incidents. Allowing alcohol sales before the mask mandate expires, she said, will only increase non-compliance and misconduct.
鈥淭he scheduled date for it to end is just a few weeks away so certainly it would be something that they should consider. [Southwest] delayed the sale of alcohol before.鈥�
, U.S. airlines have reported 323 unruly passengers this year as of February 1. 205 of those incidents were related to face mask requirements.
A spokesperson for Southwest declined to comment, but referred to the company鈥檚 last week, announcing the change for flights traveling 176 miles or more:
鈥淐ustomers have expressed a desire for more beverage options, so we鈥檙e delighted to restore additional on-board offerings as a part of the Southwest Hospitality that our Customers know and love,鈥� said Tony Roach, vice president customer experience and customer relations.
Southwest鈥檚 change in services next week would leave Fort Worth-based as the only major U.S air carrier that has not resumed serving alcoholic beverages on flights.
An FAA spokesperson said the agency is not involved in airlines鈥� decisions regarding in-flight concessions, but confirmed the requirement to wear masks is still on track to end next month.
