Delta, United, American, Southwest ban checked firearms, increase security on flights to DC ahead of inauguration

Travelers boarding flights to Washington, D.C., ahead of the inauguration will not be allowed to check firearms on several airlines and face increased security measures on all carriers.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said early Thursday that the airline will ban passengers traveling to Washington, D.C. and by the end of the day, American, United, Alaska, Southwest, Frontier and Spirit said they will also ban firearms. 

“We’re all on high alert based on the events over the last couple of weeks up in Washington,” Bastian said in an interview on CNBC.

Only law enforcement officials will be exempt from the ban.

Bastian said the airline will also add other security measures at the airports and on planes – seen and unseen – in the coming days “as we look to the week ahead.”

Planning an international trip?:Get ready to show a negative coronavirus test to board your flight home

Allegiant Air flight expansion:Allegiant Air aims for pandemic vacationers with flights to 3 new cities, including Jackson Hole and Portland

Asked whether he was worried about passenger behavior in light of in-flight incidents this year, he said 99.99% of Delta’s passengers “are really great and doing a good job.”

“I don’t want to overreact,” he said. “I think this is a moment hopefully in time with the outcry around the election results.”

Bastian said he was “pleased” to see President Donald Trump’s call for calm and order late Wednesday.

“Hopefully that will help,” he said.

Temporary firearm ban

United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest, Frontier, Spirit and Alaska Airlines – which last week banned 14 passengers from flying the carrier during the pandemic after they were rowdy and wouldn’t wear masks on a flight from Washington, D.C. – joined Delta in temporarily banning firearms on flights to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Dulles International Airport.Get the Travel newsletter in your inbox.

Travel industry news and expert reviews on air travel, hotels, cruises, and more.Delivery: Mon – FriYour Email

United Airlines also included flights to Richmond International Airport and noted law enforcement officials and active duty military traveling on orders would be exempt. 

All major airlines stepped up security precautions on flights leaving Washington last weekend after the attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 and incidents on Washington-bound flights leading up to it.

Yet there were still problems. 

Now airlines are assuming a similar posture ahead of the inauguration.

In addition to banning firearms, Seattle-based Alaska said it also plans to reduce the number of tickets sold on flights to and from the D.C. metro area to support law enforcement calls to avoid travel to the area. It will require all passengers on flights to and from metro D.C. to remain in their seats for an hour after takeoff and during landing.

The airline said it setting up a command center to monitor operations from check-in through arrival.

United, which said it banned about 60 people the week of Jan. 4 for not complying with its mask policy, will relocate crewmembers to hotels outside of downtown D.C. and increase staffing at area airports. 

Southwest Airlines is giving flight attendants stronger language to use for in-flight announcements to use as a “last resort” if passengers aren’t complying with Southwest’s mask policy or are otherwise misbehaving, according to a memo sent to flight attendants Wednesday.

Sonya Lacore, Southwest’s vice president of in-flight operations, attributed the change to a recent increase in “customer misconduct events,” especially in the past week.

“As we near Inauguration Day, we realize that we could see an increase in these occurrences,” Lacore said in the memo. 

The announcement, which is optional, reads: “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention. First, thank you to those fulfilling your promise to abide by our face covering policy. You promised compliance multiple times – when buying your ticket, checking in for your flight and completing your health declaration before traveling today. Wearing a mask is not only to protect the safety of yourself and everyone on this flight, but is also about the personal integrity it takes to fulfill a promise. For those who despite this have still chosen not to comply, please allow this announcement to serve as our final request. Future non-compliance for this or failure to follow any crewmember instructions will result in law enforcement or Southwest personnel meeting the aircraft to take further action. Thank you.”

In addition to the announcement, Lacore said Southwest has “multiple efforts” underway to boost security, especially at airport gates and when a flight lands.

American Airlines said late Wednesday that it will increase security at the airport and on planes.

The airline also won’t serve alcohol on flights to and from Washington-area airports from Jan. 16 through Jan. 21. Because of the pandemic, the airline is serving drinks only in first class section. 

The airline is also moving flight crews from their usual downtown hotel locations to those closer to airports and will provide private transportation between the airports and hotels through Jan. 24 instead of having employees use hotel shuttles.

American spokesman Curtis Blessing said the airline also is revising preflight announcements to include reminders on the airline’s face mask requirement and “the importance of following crew member instructions.”