8.20.25 – APFA Endorses the Safe Air on Airplanes Act; Joins U.S. Rep Frost for Roundtable Discussion

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

APFA Endorses the Safe Air on Airplanes Act and Joins U.S. Representative Frost for Roundtable Discussion

Safe Air on Airplanes Act

APFA strongly supports the Safe Air on Airplanes Act, reintroduced this week by Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), which would phase out the bleed air systems that currently exist on almost all commercial aircraft types. Due to obsolete and flawed bleed air systems, passengers and crewmembers are at risk of exposure to toxic fumes. Except for the Boeing 787, all commercial aircraft intake air through the engine compressors and then supply it to the cabin and flight deck. Contamination occurs when vaporized oil or hydraulic fluids are drawn in with the air through the engine. New technologies and advances in aircraft design mean that we no longer need these systems that can cause cabin air contamination.

The Safe Air on Airplanes Act would:

• End the use of bleed air systems for ventilation in new commercial aircraft design.
• Require filters on existing bleed air systems to effectively keep oil particulates out of flight deck and cabin air within seven years.
• Totally phase out the use of bleed air systems for ventilation in existing commercial aircraft designs in the coming years.

“Thank you, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-08), and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) for reintroducing this bill that is so critical to providing a basic level of safety for Flight Attendants in our workplace. Toxic fume contamination occurs far too often, but through this bill, we can ensure that the air supply we breathe in the cabin does not poison our passengers or crew members.”

-Julie Hedrick, APFA National President, representing the 29,000 American Airlines Flight Attendants

Cabin Air Quality Roundtable at Rep. Maxwell Frost’s Office in Orlando, FL

This week, APFA Representatives and Flight Attendants participated in the Cabin Air Quality Roundtable hosted by Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10) to discuss the dangers of fume contamination on airplanes. Joined by members from AFA-CWA (Frontier), TWU 579 (jetBlue), and TWU 556 (Southwest), Flight Attendants shared powerful firsthand accounts of being sickened by fume events. The incidents highlighted the serious and often long-term health effects of toxic fume inhalation as well as the lack of support in the aftermath of the events. Rep. Frost also shared a story about a flight in which he suspected he was involved in a fume event. The conversation crystalized how important the bipartisan Safe Air on Airplanes Act is for the safety of both crewmembers and passengers.

Pictured above: Representatives from APFA, AFA-CWA (Frontier), TWU 579 (jetBlue), and TWU 556 (Southwest) joined Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10) to discuss the reintroduction of the Safe Air on Airplanes Act. Representing APFA were APFA Government Affairs Specialist Lori Glattly, APFA Safety and Security Chair Andrew Rhinehart, APFA Cabin Air Specialist Rhonda Curtright, APFA Government Affairs Representative Rachel MacLeod, MIA Base President Nick Bader, and DCA Flight Attendant Natalie Hope Minton.

Reporting Smoke/Odor/Fume Events

Your health and safety come first.

What to Do in a Fume Event

• Inflight Daily Operations Desk
• APFA Emergency Notification System
• Emergency Room blood test/contact MedAire
• IOD
• CERS (AA)
• Cabin ASAP Report (FAA)
• APFA SOF Report (APFA)

Additional Resources on the APFA website

It is long overdue that this issue is addressed seriously. Prevention is key, but if an event does occur, Flight Attendants deserve support from their employer. Workers’ compensation varies from state to state but is often denied when permissible by law. If your initial claim was denied, we strongly encourage you to file an appeal. APFA will continue to expose the injustices of suffering a fume event and fight for the health and safety of our Flight Attendants.

Thank you for standing with us, Representative Frost.

In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
Lori Vitto-Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representatives
[email protected]