Flight attendants ask Hawaiian Airlines to permit expanded mask usage amid coronavirus concerns
A flight attendants union is asking Hawaiian Airlines to allow its crew to go the extra mile when protecting against coronavirus.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents flight attendants from Hawaiian and more than a dozen other airlines, is asking the airline to allow flight attendants to wear masks on flights to and from Asia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that face masks should be used for airline crew members when they "are helping sick travelers with respiratory symptoms such as coughing or sneezing." They're also advised for sick travelers and those sitting near sick travelers. The CDC's recommendations related to the new coronavirus reiterate using protective equipment when tending to a sick traveler, including face mask, eye protection, disposable gloves and a gown to cover clothing.
"The CDC only recommends the use of masks when assisting a passenger who may be showing symptoms of being ill," Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Alex da Silva said. "We always carry masks and gloves onboard our aircraft as part of our standard medical kits, which are reserved for use when warranted."
But that doesn't go far enough, according to the union, which would like flight attendants to be able to wear masks at any time during Asia flights, beyond just time spent interacting with someone who may be exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, which include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
“Hawaiian must allow and provide masks and gloves to flight attendants during this outbreak, at the very least on flights to and from Asia," Taylor Garland, spokesperson for AFA-CWA, told USA TODAY. The airline does not fly to mainland China but does have Asia flights.
Infectious-disease experts say a face mask can offer only slight protection against airborne illness. A more effective defense against a virus is washing your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the restroom and before eating.
As of Monday, coronavirus had killed 362 people. There are 17,308 cases in mainland China with another 183 spread across 27 countries. There are now 11 confirmed cases in the United States.
"They are still refusing to allow flight attendants to wear masks," Garland said of the airline. "This is unacceptable." The request comes ahead of a planned meet-up to "fight for a fair contract" at Hawaiian Airlines' corporate offices on Tuesday, according to the union on Twitter.
Hawaiian Airlines is "closely monitoring" developments surrounding the virus, da Silva said, adding that the airline follows CDC guidance by making masks and gloves available for use when warranted.
American Airlines said last month it planned to allow flight attendants to wear face surgical masks on Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai flights. That was before American, Delta and United – the only three U.S. airlines that have nonstop China flights – canceled all mainland China flights due to the outbreak.
Though the CDC isn't recommending that airline crews wear masks, many American crew members were concerned and asked about the mask policy, American spokesman Curtis Blessing said at the time.
"As a result, we have adjusted our policy on a short-term basis as the situation evolves,'' Blessing said in a statement.
The policy shift came after the union representing American flight attendants put pressure on the airline.
Contributing: Jayme Deerwester and Chelsey Cox, USA TODAY; Anna Almendrala, Kaiser Health News
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants ask to wear masks
