Insight from Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants.
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Over to you Jedediah
Jedediah, thanks will
Americans are getting out of
town for Labor Day, but many are
opting to hit the road rather
than take to the skies.
It is estimated only six million
people plan to fly over the
holiday weekend.
How does Covid era travel
compare to years past in the
airline industry
we have the association of
Flight attendants president.
We appreciate your voice here
today,
a lot of people, even though the
numbers are declining when it
comes to covid. A lot of people
are still hesitant to get on
airplanes.
Is there anything that the
airline industry can do to make
people feel more comfortable to
book those flights?
Airline industry is still
right in the middle of this
crisis.
What the industry has done is
put in place required. Mask
policies changed their cleaning
procedures talked about the air
filtration safer than in an
office building.
They have done a lot of things
to try to convince people, but it
is just not mapping.
People are choosing to drive
rather than fly.
If you look at this weekend
were half the numbers a year
ago on travel, but revenue is
down. Seventy five percent and thats, really where
we are where were expected to
be actually through the end of
the year.
That is why were asking for
continued relief from Congress
to keep us in our jobs, so we can
lift off once again, so the virus
is under control and it is safe
to fly
Jedediah. You mentioned relief
from Congress.
Unfortunately, reality were
seeing more and more airlines
announcing layoffs.
We have a full screen we can put
up while were talking, but what
do you hope to actually get for
Congress from this?
United american Delta? Are all
four lowing a lot of employees?
That is scary reality. If you
work in the airline industry,
what do you hope Congress can
do
were here at Labor Day were
supposed to be celebrating the
american worker? Instead, airline
workers are facing mass
furloughs.
That doesnt tell you the whole
story
that doesnt include people
opting to keep health insurance
theyre not counted in the
numbers, but dont necessarily
have work
were asking Congress to
continue the package put place
in March to get money directly
to workers on the front lines.
That is it? What money to the
airlines went to keep us to our
jobs, ready connected to health
care and lift our industry
again,
there is incredible bipartisan
support.
We have eighty senators who support
for for this
huge majority in the House and
White House signaled house,
the issue. The White House cannot
step in to include the job
requirements that are included
in the package that Congress can
enact.
So Congress has to have a relief
package in place to have a
legislative vehicle to put this
in place before it is too late.
These jobs, seven hundred and fifty thousand jobs in the
airline industry support
eleven million jobs in the economy.
We spend back into the economy,
so it is so important to support
these jobs. Keep the industry
intact, keep the service to all
of our communities during the
pandemic, because that is the
other requirement in place for
the airlines. If this package is
in place and then be able to
lift the economy again,
if you have credentialed
employees furloughed now it will
be a much more sluggish return
for the entire economy.
Jedediah SARA thanks for being
here.
My heart breaks for the people
losing their jobs in this
industry.
Im remaining optimistic. It will
pick up.
Everyone loves the travel
industry.
All of you serve such an
important role, lifting our
spirits.
I hope good NEWS is to come.
Thank you so much
Jed. Thank you. So much.
Transcript generated on 2020-09-08.