American Airlines will begin offering personal protective equipment to customers as part of the carrier’s efforts to battle the COVID-19 epidemic. The new procedure will be rolled out to all mainline and regional services.
The new procedure, which includes the distribution of sanitizing wipes or gels and face masks to customers, will begin in May and will begin this week and will expand to every mainline and regional flight over time.
In addition, the carrier has stepped up its cleaning services onboard, with tray tables, seatbelt buckles, armrests, window shades, seatback screens, doors, and overhead bin handles all treated with a disinfectant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This sanitation process will also include enhanced galley cleaning, and the treatment of jumpseats and crew rest seats as well as cockpit surfaces.
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These measures build on new and expanded cleaning procedures American added in early March, including additional touchpoints in the cabin, increased provisioning of hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes for crew members, and expanded fogging with an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant in all public areas on aircraft.
American is also expanding deeper cleanings and disinfection to all regional flights.
“We are looking out for our customers’ well-being to give them peace of mind while they travel with us,” says Kurt Stache, senior vice president of Customer Experience. “We’re moving quickly on these enhancements and we’ll continue to improve the travel experience for our customers and team members as we navigate these times together.”
Masks will be required for flight attendants during every mainline and regional flight from May 1, with additional protective equipment stored in aircraft galleys.
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All American Airlines mainline aircraft and most of its regional aircraft are equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, with cabin air changed approximately 15 to 30 times per hour, similar to the standard for hospitals.
At the airport, American has expanded the frequency of cleaning the areas under its control including gate areas, ticket counters, passenger service counters, baggage service offices, and team member rooms.
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