Flight attendants must have “an irreducible 10-hour rest period” between shifts, according to a rule change announced today by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Current requirements provide for nine hours of rest, which may be shortened, under some circumstances, to eight hours.
The change, mandated by a 2018 law, will take effect 30 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register, probably in the next few days, and operators will be required to comply 90 days after publication.
“Flight attendants perform critical safety roles. This rule puts them and safety first,” Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said.
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents 50,000 flight attendants at 19 airlines, agreed, adding, “It’s about time…
