Over objections of its flight attendants union, Southwest Airlines will resume alcohol sales on its flights this month after nearly two years, the Texas-based carrier said Thursday.
U.S. airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic had mostly suspended in-flight services on domestic flights to avoid having passengers remove their masks while eating or drinking. Southwest extended its pause last year due to a surge in disruptions by passengers.
Southwest, which had paused alcohol services in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, said that it would resume the sale of the beverages Feb. 16.
Southwest’s decision to extend the pause on alcohol services last year came following an incident where a passenger assaulted a flight attendant verbally and physically, during a flight from Sacramento to San Diego.
Beverages for sale will include wine, vodka, tequila and rum on most flights of 176 miles or more. The airline also said it would add a new lineup of nonalcoholic beverages like tonic water, apple juice, Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, hot tea and hot cocoa.
“Customers have expressed a desire for more beverage options,” Tony Roach, vice president customer experience and customer relations, said in a statement.
Options join the current offerings of Coke, Diet Coke, 7 Up, water, ginger ale, seltzer water, orange juice, cranberry cocktail juice and coffee.
Alcoholic beverage options will include Miller Lite ($6), Blue Moon ($7), Lagunitas IPA ($7), sparkling wine ($6), chardonnay ($6), cabernet sauvignon ($6), vodka ($7), lime vodka ($7), Jack Daniels ($7), Wild Turkey ($7) and Bacardi Rum ($7), the airline said in a news release.
“For their convenience, customers may redeem any Southwest Drink Coupon that was set to expire in 2020 or 2021 for an alcohol beverage through Dec. 31, 2022,” the airline said.
The union, which represents Southwest Airlines’ flight attendants, said the move is “both unsafe and irresponsible.”
“TWU Local 556 is outraged at Southwest Airlines’ resumption of alcohol sales,” Lyn Montgomery, president of Local 556 said in a statement when contacted by Reuters.
“We have adamantly and unequivocally informed management that resuming sales of alcohol while the mask mandate is in place has the great potential to increase customer non-compliance and misconduct issues.”
Southwest did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment on the union’s statement.
U.S. airlines have reported a record number of disruptive and sometimes violent incidents in 2021, and the Federal Aviation Administration has pledged a “zero-tolerance” approach towards unruly air passengers.
Reuters contributed to this report.
