Are Airlines with direct flights to Cancun Mexico changing their flight policies because of Swine Flu?
US Airways is going “above and beyond normal cleaning measures” but hasn’t canceled any flights in relation to swine flu cases and travel advisories in other countries. Charlotte’s dominant carrier, US Airways, operates three daily nonstop flights to Cancun and one to Mexico City. The airline also has weekend flights to Cozumel, Mexico. Two Cancun flights and the Mexico City flight departed as scheduled this morning. Return flights for those routes don’t arrive in Charlotte until this afternoon and evening. In response to the swine flu cases, US Airways cleaning crews are giving airplane cabins — especially the lavatories — more thorough cleanings between flights, airline spokesman Michelle Mohr said. In addition, she said, flight attendants are frequently using hand sanitizer and wearing rubber gloves during beverage and meal service. While the carrier — which operates about 90 percent of flights in Charlotte — hasn’t canceled any flights because of the swine flu cases, Mohr said
US Airways is going “above and beyond normal cleaning measures” but hasn’t canceled any flights in relation to swine flu cases and travel advisories in other countries. Charlotte’s dominant carrier, US Airways, operates three daily nonstop flights to Cancun and one to Mexico City. The airline also has weekend flights to Cozumel, Mexico. Two Cancun flights and the Mexico City flight departed as scheduled this morning. Return flights for those routes don’t arrive in Charlotte until this afternoon and evening. In response to the swine flu cases, US Airways cleaning crews are giving airplane cabins — especially the lavatories — more thorough cleanings between flights, airline spokesman Michelle Mohr said. In addition, she said, flight attendants are frequently using hand sanitizer and wearing rubber gloves during beverage and meal service. While the carrier — which operates about 90 percent of flights in Charlotte — hasn’t canceled any flights because of the swine flu cases, Mohr said
Travel companies are on alert; governments issue travel alerts Harriet Baskas The swine flu outbreak has officials in North America and around the world on their toes as they attempt to stem the disease’s transfer and impact. Airports, airlines and agencies are taking preventative measures and monitoring the traveling public for signs and symptoms. In response to reports of 149 deaths in Mexico and at least 42 confirmed cases in the U.S., the U.S. government has taken the precautionary measure of declaring a public health emergency. The federal government is preparing a travel advisory instructing Americans to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico, the acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. Dr. Richard Besser made the disclosure during a news conference in Atlanta, saying the advisory was being released “out of an abundance of caution.” Canada is also considering issuing an advisory warning. Public Health Officer David Butler-Jones says an advisory cou
Meeting planner Gail Murphy heard about the travel warning to Mexico too late in the day on Monday to do anything about her plans to head to Cancun the following day. Alberto Morales wore a mask on his flight from Mexico City to Denver, Colorado, on Monday. 1 of 2 “I’m in good health,” said Murphy, who is heading to the Eighth Annual Mexico Showcase and Travel Expo from her home in Shelburne, Vermont. “I’m a risk taker, so I’ll go anyway.” In light of the swine flu, the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plan to issue a warning against any non-essential travel to Mexico, said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The move could potentially devastate an already struggling tourism industry in the country. The country is the epicenter for the swine influenza virus outbreak. More than 100 deaths in Mexico are being investigated as possibly tied to the outbreak. The World Health Organization said Monday that 73 cases of swine flu had been con
Christopher White, AirTran (10:01 a.m. EST): While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not advised individuals to avoid traveling to Mexico, AirTran Airways will waive change fees for passengers who wish to alter their travel scheduled to or from Cancun through May 4, 2009. Tim Smith, American Airlines (9:39 a.m. EST): We have instituted a Travel Policy that allows travelers to any city in Mexico to change their plans without any fee or penalty. A link to it is posted onto our AA.com Web site home page. We are told that authorities in Mexico are closely monitoring passengers who are leaving as they go through Security.
