AFA Statement on ICE Charters
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2025) — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing Flight Attendants at 20 airlines including Avelo, released the following statement after Avelo Airlines informed workers that the airline would be operating ICE charters:
“Flight Attendants have brought grave concerns to our union over Avelo’s recent decision to contract with the Department of Homeland Security to transport deportees through and out of the country on charter flights under the direction of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Air Operations Unit (ICE charters)."
“We urge Avelo to reconsider this decision that will be bad for the airline and our country."
“Flight Attendants are charged with the safety and health of the passengers on our flights and to evacuate an airplane in 90 seconds or less in the event of an emergency. Having an entire flight of people handcuffed and shackled would hinder any evacuation and risk injury or death. It also impedes our ability to respond to a medical emergency, fire on board, decompression, etc. We cannot do our jobs in these conditions.”
AFA passed a resolution on mass deportation, detainment, and attacks on free speech and protest.
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The Association of Flight Attendants is the Flight Attendant union. Focused 100 percent on Flight Attendant issues, AFA has been the leader in advancing the Flight Attendant profession for over 79 years. Serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill, AFA has transformed the Flight Attendant profession by raising wages, benefits and working conditions. Over 55,000 Flight Attendants come together to form AFA, part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org.
