Southwest Air Limits Onboard Drinks to Water on Longer Flights

(Bloomberg) -- Southwest Airlines Co. is extending new limits on food and beverage service during flights to help reduce person-to-person contact that could spread the new coronavirus.

The carrier will restrict beverages to canned water on routes longer than 250 miles, effective Wednesday, Dallas-based Southwest said in an email Tuesday.

Southwest will continue to serve individual packets of snacks on the longer flights, and passengers can bring their own food and non-alcoholic beverages on board. Southwest ended all snack and beverage service -- including water -- on routes below 250 miles on Monday.

The changes reflect increasing pressure on airlines to help limit the spread of the new coronavirus as they struggle to sustain operations amid a collapse in demand. Carriers have cut flights, trimmed some amenities and offered voluntary leaves for workers as they seek to reduce operating costs, and have asked the U.S. for $58 billion in loan guarantees, grants and tax relief.

“Offering unopened cans of water allows our flight attendants to deliver each customer a beverage while limiting trips, and touch points, in the aisles,” said Brian Parrish, a Southwest spokesman.

United Airlines Holdings Inc. will suspend operations at 17 loyalty program lounges starting Wednesday because of the drop in demand, and American Airlines Group Inc. has switched from food buffet options at its clubs to individually packaged items. American has also switched to plastic or paper cups in premium cabins from glass and ended hot-towel service.

Delta Air Lines Inc., too, is temporarily removing glassware, including coffee mugs, from routes with first class and Delta One service, and is using new cups each time a passenger wants a refill. It’s suspended all hot-towel service. Alaska Air Group Inc. has stopped offering water to passengers just after takeoff and, like American, is replacing cups and glasses each time they’re filled.

A Standard & Poor’s index of the five largest U.S. airlines fell 42% this year through Monday.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.