Amid the celebrations of this past Holiday weekend, reports began to surface about a new Covid-19 Variant, Omicron. Cases have been seen coming out of South Africa and have now been tracked in Asia and parts of Europe. With borders just beginning to open this gives us pause to look at how air travel will adapt as new and different variants, some of which may be dangerous, emerge around the world.
As aviation’s first responders we know first-hand how preventative measures can play a crucial role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and its variants and keeping both working crew and passengers safe. Regardless of where we fly, domestic or international, there are steps we should all be taking, working together, to push for the safest conditions possible.
We are in the business of uniting people from around the world and doing it safely. Following the mask mandates and educating passengers on United’s procedures will continue to promote passenger understanding and compliance. When warranted, use the tools provided by United to issue passenger warnings and escalate the issue to the Flight Deck for support when necessary. Remember to file IORs and consider thoughtfully using the newly released My Safety App which can effectively be used in filing these safety reports.
When coming to work take into consideration your personal health needs. Use the personal protective equipment (PPE) made available by the company. Change your mask frequently. Wear gloves to minimize touch points and wash and sanitize your hands whenever possible.
No one person can stop the spread of COVID-19. But, working together the steps we take now will protect each of us and our industry going forward.