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Cathay Pacific Airways has declined a request by flight attendants to wear masks and gloves as a precaution against swine flu, saying Thursday global health authorities haven’t advised such measures. The airline’s flight attendant union asked permission earlier this week for cabin crew to don protective gear when collecting meal trays on all flights from the U.S., where nearly 100 cases have been confirmed.
Cathay Pacific said the World Health Organization has issued no guidelines that suggest wearing masks offers general protection against the virus. "The advice says one has to wear masks only when dealing with sick patients. It doesn’t say one has to wear masks on board," said Cathay Pacific spokeswoman Carolyn Leung. "WHO is a professional body, so we’re adhering to its advice." The flight attendants’ union bristled at the decision.
"There are hundreds of people in a plane, we have no clue who might have infectious diseases," said Becky Kwan, the union’s chairwoman. "What is wrong with wearing masks? It helps reduce direct contacts." The carrier has increased its stock of masks available on flights for passengers as a precaution, Leung said. While Hong Kong has no direct flight to Mexico, the disease’s epicenter, Cathay Pacific operates 14 daily flights to and from the US.
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