American Airlines continues to accumulate lawsuits, and allegations of racism towards BIPOC individuals persist, often involving high-profile figures. Recently, Rapper Juvenile and his wife were reportedly asked to vacate their first-class seats without clear justification. The NAACP has issued a warning to Black customers, advising them to steer clear of the airline, which is also rumored to be on the brink of bankruptcy due to its controversial policies.
In 1964, American Airlines made history by hiring David Harris, the first African American pilot in commercial aviation. His groundbreaking journey through racial barriers is chronicled in the young adult book "Segregated Skies" by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cottman. This event marked a significant moment in American Airlines' complex history with African American communities.
Harris notes that there is still "much room for improvement" in the commercial airline industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 93% of pilots are white, and most are male. Following several incidents of alleged racial discrimination against passengers, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has stated he is taking immediate steps to "rebuild trust" within the company. In a letter to employees, which NPR acquired, Isom expressed his desire to discuss an "unacceptable incident" in which eight Black male passengers were removed and subsequently reboarded on an American Airlines flight in January. He stated that this regrettable event "contradicts" the airline's values and its principles.
Three Black men have initiated a lawsuit against American Airlines, claiming they experienced "blatant and egregious racial discrimination" following their removal from a flight. The lawsuit, lodged in federal court, involves plaintiffs Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal, who assert that they, along with five other Black male passengers, were unjustly removed from a flight departing Phoenix for New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in January, citing race as the sole reason for their removal.
The eight men did not know each other and were not seated together on the flight. But this is not the first time even being naturally Black bothers American Airlines! Rogers v. American Airlines was a 1981 legal case decided by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York involving plaintiff Renee Rogers, a Black woman who brought charges against her employer, American Airlines, for both sex and race discrimination after she was dissuaded from wearing her hair in cornrows due to the airline's employee grooming policy.
American Airlines has set ambitious climate goals, striving to operate a fleet that is more fuel-efficient and increasingly reliant on low-carbon fuels. The company is also collaborating and pooling resources and expertise to accelerate the decarbonization solutions that are vital for achieving net-zero aviation. However, like their Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, they have not yet fully met the commendable standards. The recent flight cancellations by American Airlines are indicative of the broader industry's looming challenges due to climate change. It is widely recognized that climate change leads to more extreme and severe weather, which contributes to such cancellations. These disruptions offer a pertinent moment to consider how climate change may increasingly complicate air travel, affecting both the economics of the industry and the passenger experience in future decades. Additionally, fostering racial trust is also essential in these efforts.
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