Single passenger flights: The daily woes of airlines, and the crew still working

[turbinetree]

BUSINESS NEWS APRIL 4, 2020 / 4:23 PM / UPDATED 35 MINUTES AGO

(Reuters) - When Reuters photographer Carlos Barria boarded American Airlines flight 4511 from Washington Reagan National Airport to New Orleans on Friday for an assignment, he was the only passenger on the 76-seat jet.

“There were some awkward moments,” Barria said.

Like when the gate agent announced a formal boarding process only to remember that Barria was the sole passenger who would board, or when the pilot approached his seat to personally explain a delay in take-off due to a mechanical issue, rather than speak over the PA system.

The two flight attendants invited Barria to sit in a first-class seat and went through the safety demonstration for Barria alone.

“I felt I had to pay attention,” he said.

Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; additional reporting by Maria Caspani; editing by Diane Craft

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-airlines-usa/single-passenger-flights-the-daily-woes-of-airlines-and-the-crew-still-working-idUSKBN21M0TW?il=0

[kimbutgar]

1. My sister in law who is a flight attendant flew from Salt Lake City to Boston with only 8 passengers

This week. She is a 30 year senior flight attendant. Usually does international and misses those trips. Now she is stuck doing domestic now.

[mwooldri]

2. At least she is working.

She probably knows of other air crew who have been furloughed or laid off. Despite being in trucking, the company I work for has furloughed drivers. Not many people needing boats (boat manufacturing shut down) and some float glass manufacturing has now stopped. Drivers dedicated to these contracts were furloughed if they couldn't take a dry van contract (or if there wasn't an alternative to give them).