The United States House of Representatives denied an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration. The government had demanded airlines reinstate pilots who had been fired or forced to resign as a result of their vaccine status.
According to United, approximately six pilots who used to work for the company were dismissed for refusing to get vaccinated or obtain a vaccine exemption. This means that the working personnel were placed on unpaid leave while the regulation was in effect.
On the same line, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines did not fire any pilot who decided not to get vaccinated during that time. However, the regulation attempts to control health and the spread of COVID-19 and would allow to dismiss employees who refuse to follow health decrees.
Fortunately, Delta, United, and American have reached an agreement with their pilots since the pandemic. However, only Delta has been has been ratified so far. Similarly, Southwest Airlines is currently negotiating some important issues for their older pilots with its company “medical freedom.”
The air industry got back up after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in most countries. Most airlines had a traveling “boom,” with routes getting busier as the limitations that COVID-19 brought to the entire planet started to be less rigorous. However, it looks like there is still work to do regarding issues, laws, and regulations that were passed during the pandemic and currently no longer hold the same weight as they did three years ago.
