An American Airways flight attendant serves drinks to passengers after departing from Dallas/Fort Value Worldwide Airport in Texas.
Robert Alexander | Archive Pictures | Getty Pictures
American Airways mentioned Thursday it can resume gross sales of alcoholic drinks on home and short-haul worldwide flights subsequent month, a plan it delayed nearly a 12 months in the past due to a surge in unruly passengers and assaults on crew members.
Airways stopped promoting alcohol and paused meals gross sales and repair in March 2020, when the pandemic began and journey demand plunged. Carriers have been steadily bringing again lots of these companies over the previous 12 months as vacationers returned in droves.
American is the final main U.S. provider to deliver again gross sales of beer, wine and spirits, which it can promote in its home coach cabins beginning April 18, the date the present federal masks mandate expires. It is not clear whether or not the Biden administration will lengthen or finish the requirement. Southwest Airways restarted alcohol gross sales final month.
Ingesting and disputes over the masks mandate have contributed to unruly conduct on flights, flight attendant unions have mentioned.
Gross sales might be out there on American flights longer than 250 miles. Alcoholic drinks are complimentary on American’s long-haul worldwide flights and in firstclass, as it’s on different main airways.
American and Southwest final Could scrapped plans to start out promoting alcohol once more after a surge in disruptive passengers and assaults on crew, together with a Southwest traveler who punched a flight attendant.
American is not elevating costs in contrast with the earlier than the pandemic, a spokeswoman informed CNBC. Spirits corresponding to new arrival Aviation Gin, rum, vodka and whiskey might be $9. Wine servings are additionally $9. Beer is $8.
American can be bringing again buy-on-board meals, which is able to begin with flights longer than 1,500 miles, about three-and-a-half hours, beginning with chips and almonds. The airline says it can begin providing touchless ordering later this 12 months.
Final month, American and Delta Air Traces introduced the return of scorching meals to firstclass on many home flights.
