Flight attendants at American Airlines publicly criticized the carrier’s new uniforms when they began reporting health problems after wearing them, and months later pilots are raising similar concerns.
Initially, thousands of flight attendants said they experienced allergic reactions to the new uniform fabric, reporting symptoms that ranged from hives to breathing difficulties. Now more than 100 American Airlines pilots have reported comparable issues, and their union has announced it will investigate.
“We’ve had pilots that are beginning to report the same reactions as our flight attendants,” Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We had about 100 reports but we’re getting indications that there are more out there.”
The uniform manufacturer, Twin Hill, has stated that testing found chemical levels in the garments were below thresholds expected to affect wearers. Nevertheless, the volume of crew complaints has been significant.
American Airlines has not issued a recall of the uniforms but has offered employees alternatives made from polyester or cotton. The carrier says it is willing to continue discussions with staff and their representatives about potential solutions.
“Whatever they find in their survey, we’re happy to meet and discuss it with them,” Ron Defeo, a spokesman for American Airlines Group Inc., told Bloomberg News. “We’ve shown we’re willing to work and find solutions. We’d do the same with pilots.”