FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Association of Flight Attendants-CWA calling for leisure air travel restrictions?
Old Apr 27, 2020, 9:34 am
  #10  
Ford Fairlane
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan; Formerly SEA
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Originally Posted by FlyingUnderTheRadar
Why is a business trip more important than a leisure trip?
Originally Posted by TBD
Seriously?
A business trip can include technicians flying to repair air traffic control systems. Or physicians traveling for vaccine development/testing. et al ad infinitum
I believe the distinctions here are among leisure travel, business travel, and essential travel. I suspect FlyingUnderTheRadar was asking the OP, who talked about a trip with a business need.

The letter from the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) doesn't mention business needs, only essential travel. From page 4 of their letter:

Protect Essential Service by Air, End Leisure Travel Until Virus Is Contained
Finally, we call on lawmakers and regulators to take further action to limit the spread of the virus by restricting air travel to only that necessary to continue essential services. Airlines are continuing to deliver people, mail, and cargo, uniting families that are grieving or rushing to be with those who have fallen ill, and transporting others who require medical treatment unrelated to the pandemic. These are some of the many essential services provided by aviation to all of our communities – large and small - that must be maintained as the pandemic continues. We believe that protecting this essential service and ensuring air travel is not aiding in spread of the virus requires a halt to all leisure travel until the pandemic is brought under control according to health authorities. We appreciate the swift steps DOT has taken to put in place a process for airlines to request exemptions on flights that do not assist materially in the essential service to our communities. We believe we can all do more together and will work for a brief anti-trust exemption so DOT can coordinate a schedule with airlines to continue essential service only. In addition, we request messaging from all leadership to encourage the public to end leisure travel until we have “flattened the curve.”
Update: I mean that the examples "technicians flying to repair air traffic control systems. Or physicians traveling for vaccine development/testing" would fall under essential travel, not business travel.

Last edited by Ford Fairlane; Apr 27, 2020 at 10:35 am
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