Exclusive: Top U.S. airlines offer to re-assign crew from Zika-hit routes
Top U.S. airlines United and Delta have offered to re-assign certain flight crew concerned about contracting the Zika virus from routes to Latin America and the Caribbean, the companies told Reuters on Wednesday. In an internal memo on Jan. 28, seen by Reuters, United said expectant flight attendants as well as those seeking to become pregnant could switch routes to avoid Zika-affected regions without repercussions. The airline has similar options available for pilots, said Charles Hobart, spokesman for parent United Continental Holdings Inc. Delta Air Lines Inc has also let flight attendants and pilots switch assignments since Jan. 17, and “a small number of crew members have swapped trips to date,” spokesman Morgan Durrant told Reuters.