American Airlines is stepping up security measures ahead of Induction Day, increasing staff in Washington, DC, and relocating crews to hotels near airports.
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The airline said it would suspend the sale of alcoholic beverages on flights to and from DC area airports, including Baltimore / Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI), Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and the Airport Internacional Dulles (IAD) from 16 to 21 January.
Crew members will be relocated to hotels outside the center locations they usually visit and will receive private transportation to and from their hotels and the airport from now until January 24th.
In addition, the airline said it is reviewing the announcements before departure to further emphasize the importance of following instructions from crew members and complying with mandatory facial coverage policies.
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“We continue to work closely with local and federal authorities, as well as our airport partners, and we will continue to apply policies that ensure the safety and well-being of our customers and team members on the ground and in the air” said the airline. in a statement.
The move comes at a time when several law enforcement agencies remain on high alert for acts of violence following the US Capitol insurrection on January 6.
The FBI has warned that armed protesters are planning to attack the city before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, while National Guard troops remain on the lookout for explosives and potential IEDs across the city.
American Airlines is not the only operator making adjustments to its protocols. Delta said it will ban checked firearms on board flights, unless the passenger is a law enforcement officer, CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC on Thursday.
Delta included 880 people on its air exclusion list for failing to comply with the masks’ mandates, while others were banned after being linked to Capitol riots, a spokesman told Reuters.
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United States Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson told the news agency that disturbing passengers could face fines of up to $ 35,000 and possible jail time for failing to comply with airline officials, signaling a “tolerance policy” zero “to violence.