The union representing American Airlines’ flight attendants is renewing a push for personal protective equipment, saying 100 have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants announced the scale of infections in a message to its members.
It says it has been pressuring AA to provide protective equipment since January.
"We have consistently advocated for PPE for all of our flight attendants to be available on every aircraft, for social distancing between passengers and to receive immediate notification of flight attendants who have tested positive for the virus," said APFA president Julie Hedrick.
"Flight attendants are aviation’s first responders, who are transporting medical personnel and supplies into covid-19 hotspots."
The union said it expects only about one-quarter of flight attendants to be on flying duty in May, due to massive cuts in American’s flight schedules.
Flight attendants will continue to be paid as part of conditions to receive federal aid.
However most ‘will be at minimal paid hours for months to come,’ American CEO Doug Parker warned.
