The nation's airlines are conducting safety measures of their own and the federal government does not need to remind them of what they must do to keep passengers and crew safe during the coronavirus emergency, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told Newsmax TV on Monday.
"They care about the safety of their passengers," Chao told "Spicer & Co." "The reality is that passenger volume has basically dropped by 96%, so social distancing is very possible on airplanes these days. There were 115 planes that left DCA National Airport (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) the other day. A large number had one passenger on board."
She said it is important to thank the airlines for their service, as flying remains essential, as there are people who still need to keep traveling.
Show co-host Sean Spicer noted there is at least one airline that wants to leave middle seats empty for distancing purposes while others are concerned that they will lose money by taking such a measure.
Chao responded she does not think airlines' passenger volume will respond exceptionally fast, and the airlines will have an opportunity to adjust.
"What's also going to happen is that if one airline refuses that kind of social distancing, they're going to have a consumer backlash," said Chao, as the consumers will ultimately decide and make it known what they want.
Chao also discussed the issue of the national supply chain, pointing out truckers remain vital and the government has allotted billions to the transit systems, airports, Amtrak, and more as the nation's economy rebuilds.
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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