Union calls for probe into ‘toxic air’ onboard aircraft
Britain’s largest trade union has repeated its call for a public inquiry into potentially toxic air onboard aircraft as it emerged that easyJet is to fit new filters to its planes to reduce the risk of potentially toxic air entering the cabins.
Speaking at the start of a Unite-sponsored conference into aircraft cabin air at Imperial College in London, the union, which represents 25,000 cabin crew, has described the move as a potential ‘game changer’ and an acknowledgement of the health problems caused by contaminated ‘bleed air’ and fume events on board aircraft.
Unite national officer for civil aviation Oliver Richardson said: "The move by easyJet to fit cabin air filters is a step in the right direction but more can and must be done to understand and combat toxic cabin air.
"The airline industry has been aware for years of the problem of contaminated cabin air and too many lives have been ruined for it to be swept under the carpet."
The two-day conference, which is supported by industry, will be the most in-depth conference on cabin air contamination ever and look at the business, regulatory and technical solutions to toxic cabin air on aircraft, according to Unite.
"This groundbreaking international conference that Unite is supporting will inform and shine a light on the impact of toxic cabin air and deepen understanding," added Richardson.
"But we need to go further and the airline industry needs to face up to its responsibilities to passengers and cabin crew.
"We need an independent inquiry so that the dangers of toxic cabin air can be fully assessed and investigated in an open forum to give passengers and cabin crew peace of mind that the air they breathe on aircraft is not going to damage their health."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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