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.”
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A spokesman said the airline was aware of the lawsuit.
“We are in close contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and global public health officials to make sure we are taking all necessary precautions for our customers and team members,” said the spokesman, Joshua Freed.
American announced Wednesdaythat it will suspend flights between Los Angeles and both Beijing and Shanghai beginning Feb. 9. The airline has not announced changes in flights between Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong or between Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
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Freed said American is monitoring the situation and could make other changes “as needed."
Captain Dennis Tajer is a spokesman for the union. He says the group expressed concerns to airline about flying into China on Tuesday.
“But when we were in that conversation with the company it was apparent to us that they just did not have the same vision on it,” said Tajer.
Tajer says they’re simply looking out for the health of employees and passengers.
“It’s the perfect platform spread any type of disease or viral thing,” he said.
Tajer says union members will not budge.
“When it comes to safety, we’re going to stand on that iron horse and it’s not going to move,” he said. “Talk to your boss. Tell them. And you just don’t fly it.”
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have announced they will reduce the number of flights to China starting over the next few days. Some foreign carriers, including British Airways, have said they will stop all flights to the country at the center of the outbreak.
