Southwest Airlines has announced that it will halt offering peanuts in snacks to the passengers from next month on all its flights. The airliner stated that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of the passengers having severe peanut allergies. For the record, the low-cost carrier started serving peanuts as snacks to travelers in 1970s, and it has been a staple food on all its flights since 1980s. However, the strategic move of the airliner to ban peanuts will result in it offering other kinds of snacks such as veggie chips, pretzels, corn chips, and cookies.
The key officials of Southwest Airlines have announced that the key objective of the airliner is to create a safe environment for all its travelers on the flight. The US-based carrier also declared that it wants to ensure best on-board experience for its passengers, particularly those having peanut-related allergies.
Reports cite that peanut allergies are one of the most severe kinds of food allergies. With some of them resulting in stomach aches, itchiness, and hives, while others proving to be fatal such as heart attack & anaphylaxis that can cause death of the patients.
Lianne Mandelbaum, founder of The No Nut Traveler, has applauded the decision of Southwest Airlines stating that the airliner has recognized food allergy as a rising public health issue.
Southwest Airlines, which accounts for over 60% of daily flights at BWI Airport, wants to expand its Concourse A facility by nearly 55,000 sq feet at BWI Airport through its USD 60 million venture. The key officials of the BWI Airport have requested the state authorities to quickly approve construction of five additional gates for the airliner.
Apparently, the construction is likely to commence in January next year and will be completed during the first half of 2020.