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In response, the TSA is increasing passenger checks and airlines are banning certain firearms and alcohol and taking additional measures to ensure the safety of airline crew members.
Following Delta’s announcement, US, United and Alaska airlines announced they were instituting the same policy banning controlled weapons on flights to Washington. United will also ban guns on flights to Richmond, Virginia.
American has said active-duty military personnel traveling on Department of Defense orders are exempt from the policy and will waive fare differences for customers who need to book new travel as a result of this temporary policy change. . He added that passengers returning to Washington on a round-trip ticket should contact customer service about weapons they could have checked in on their outbound flight.
Alcohol
The airline said it had also revised its pre-departure announcements to further emphasize the importance of following crewmembers’ instructions and complying with mandatory face cover policies.
Bastian said 99.99% of passengers behaved well, but said he would take action against problem passengers.
Southwest Airlines told CNN it currently does not serve alcohol on any flights due to service changes linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
Projections
The TSA told CNN on Wednesday it was instituting a second screening of certain passengers on board flights, in addition to standard screening procedures at TSA checkpoints.
“This is a routine practice and represents one of the multiple layers of security that we employ,” agency spokesman Carter Langston told CNN, when asked about a report that said officers TSA were stopping passengers at the door of a flight to Washington to verify identity and baggage. .
“It may happen with greater frequency due to recent and upcoming events, but it is a routine practice,” Langston said.
Screening of passengers to Washington complements increased security and police presence at the three Washington-area airports, which includes armored vehicles and a notable increase in the number of officers visible at terminals. The TSA told CNN on Monday that the agency was on “high alert.”
Ensure the safety of crew and passengers
American is moving crew members from downtown Washington hotels to those closer to airports. It will provide them with private transportation between hotels and airports until January 24 and increase staff at airports in the DC area.
Bastian said in a conference call Thursday that Delta had banned more than 800 passengers since the mask’s tenure began. A number of them were banned just last week, although he said it was “not a huge number”. He earlier told CNBC that 99.99% of passengers were behaving, but would take the necessary steps to deal with unruly passengers.
“We are all on high alert, based on the events of the past two weeks in Washington,” Bastian said on CNBC. “We are doing a tremendous amount in terms of information gathering and discussions with federal and local intelligence agencies, as well as the FAA and TSA. We have increased the level of security, both at airports and in the air, visible and invisible. ”
The Federal Aviation Administration also said it is launching a “special emphasis enforcement program” to crack down on passengers who “assault, threaten, intimidate or interfere with a crew member in the line of duty. of a crew member “.
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson wrote in an order that the agency recently saw a “proliferation” of incidents of passengers refusing to comply with pandemic-related safety measures, such as wearing masks , as well as an increase in bad behavior “after January 6, 2021 violence on the US Capitol.” The agency can fine passengers up to $ 35,000 for violation.
– CNN’s Zachary Cohen and Whitney Wild contributed to this report.
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