American said it would resume selling beer, wine and spirits on domestic flights over 250 miles on April 18.
Photo: Steven Senne/Associated Press
American Airlines Group Inc. AAL 0.79% will resume selling alcoholic beverages on many domestic flights next month—a plan it put off last year in an effort to tamp down on unruly passenger behavior.
Airlines largely suspended food and beverage service in 2020 when travel demand plummeted and they wanted to minimize contact between customers and crew. Those amenities have started to return, but airlines have taken different approaches to alcohol sales in coach sections.
American was the last major airline to hold off on bringing alcohol back in economy, though it has offered it in premium cabins and beer and wine have been available on long-haul international flights. American said it would resume selling beer, wine and spirits on domestic flights over 250 miles on April 18—just as a federal mandate requiring masks on flights and in airports is scheduled to expire.
Flight attendants and federal aviation officials say that mask-related disputes and alcohol have both played a role in the rise in onboard incidents since last year. In explaining why it opted not to resume sales last year, American said at the time that alcohol can contribute to “atypical behavior” and exacerbate stressful situations.
But most major carriers have started to bring drinks back. Southwest Airlines Co. restored alcohol sales last month, citing customer demand. At the time, the union that represents its flight attendants objected and said it was irresponsible to sell alcohol while mask rules remain in place.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents American’s flight attendants, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Write to Alison Sider at [email protected]
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Appeared in the March 18, 2022, print edition as ‘American to Sell Alcohol Again.’
