American Airlines pilots sue to halt flights to China

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DAVID KOENIG

DALLAS (AP) — The pilots’ union at American Airlines sued on Thursday to stop the carrier from flying to China and told members not to operate flights there because of the spreading coronavirus outbreak.

The Allied Pilots Association, which represents American’s 15,000 pilots, asked a state district court in Dallas for an injunction to halt the flights immediately. The union cited declarations by international health experts that the virus is a public health emergency.

“The safety and well-being of our crews and passengers must always be our highest priority — first, last, and always,” union President Eric Ferguson said in a statement.

Ferguson noted that several international carriers have stopped flying to China. Union leaders asked American’s management to do the same, he said, “but to date they have not canceled any U.S.-China flights. We are therefore compelled to seek injunctive relief.”



Travelers wearing face masks line up to check in for an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. China counted 170 deaths from a new virus Thursday and more countries reported infections, including some spread locally, as foreign evacuees from China's worst-hit region returned home to medical observation and even isolation. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)


Read more: https://apnews.com/797bd4f8e6569a8579a37c7546e5f0ce

[iluvtennis]

1. FAA should be grounding the flights to/from China - pilots shouldn't have to sue. Capitalism :-(

[SharonClark]

6. So you think a socialist or communist run airline

would behave differently?

[treestar]

8. Maybe. American will go so long as it makes money

and that is their only consideration.

[Bengus81]

9. Tell them the pilots will fly there as long as the CEO is in cabin class seats for the whole trip...

POOF....suddenly the flights get cancelled.

[yaesu]

2. WHO has criticized trade and travel restrictions, in a press conference where it announced a public

health emergency.
Professor Didier Houssin, Chair of the emergency committee, questioned the science behind the decision of countries who had put the restrictions in place.

He said these restrictions were not an “example to follow but a decision to reconsider”.

It seems the The World Health Organization isn't as worried about travel as some would think. The infectious rate is below SARS & even below the common flu. I understand the pilots concerns & I would ignore anything the tRump administration says but the scientists at WHO are no dummies & they seem to think travel restrictions have been overdone.

[mountain grammy]

3. Serious question

Why don’t they threaten to strike? Put AA on notice.

[yaesu]

4. If this turns into a pandemic business will shut down all over the world, workers will refuse to

work, consumers will refuse to consume. This may be just the first domino to fall, I personnel don't think it will be as bad as the 2009 Swine flu which killed tens of thousands worldwide & 8000 have died in this country by the common flu so far this season.

[yaesu]

5. The Reuters news agency is reporting that China's Shandong province has asked companies not to

resume working before 10 February to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Reuters is quoting the state news agency Xinhua.

[Baclava]

11. Hong Kong closes schools till Mar 2, shutting down border to mainland China

They arent taking any chances

[Omaha Steve]

7. There is a no strike clause in their contract

It would have been a legitimate reason to fire.

[mountain grammy]

10. Thanks.

I knew there was a 30 day “cooling off” period, but didn’t know they agreed to that.

[dalton99a]

12. Delta, American airlines to stop all China flights

American cited the State Department's updated travel advisory Friday in suspending its U.S.-China routes immediately through March 28. The airline said it would contact the affected customers directly to help them make alternate travel arrangements.

"We will continue to evaluate the schedule for March 28 and beyond and make any adjustments as necessary," the airline said in a statement.

Atlanta-based Delta on Friday said it would suspend its U.S.-China flights from Feb. 6 through April 30.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/01/31/coronavirus-china-flight-ban-delta-cuts-all-flights-white-house/4620989002/

[Baclava]

13. I expect a flood of connecting flights from those trying to out of Dodge to other countries first

Maybe its just to protect the air crews