The Master Executive Council (MEC) has approved an extension to the dynamic contractual waiver due to the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in Anchorage, AK yesterday and today. The contractual duty day and rest requirements are waived ‘down’ to Federal Air Regulations (FARs) for the narrow purposes of facilitating avoiding ANC layovers and to keep the ANC operation running through 8:30 am AST tomorrow: December 2, 2018. AFA’s understanding and expectation is that the dynamic contractual waiver will expire at such time, crews arriving thereafter will begin to remain overnight, and all contractual duty and rest limitations will resume.

This is an opportunity to remind Flight Attendants that our current domiciles and many if not most of our layovers are located within the “Ring of Fire,” which is where the vast majority of earthquakes in the world occur. Additionally, the State of Alaska is one of the most seismically active regions within the Ring of Fire. Be advised that the probability of aftershocks around the greater Anchorage area will be heightened for quite some time.

Consequently, it is best practice to always be prepared for an earthquake: https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

The MEC sincerely thanks everyone in advance for any long duty days or short layovers because of this natural disaster. Our thoughts continue to be with all Flight Attendants, their families and friends living in and around the greater Anchorage area as they begin the process of cleaning up and tending to frayed nerves.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee

A large earthquake (preliminary estimates around 7.0 in magnitude) struck Anchorage, AK at approximately 9:29 PST (8:29 AST). There are initial reports of damage to infrastructure. So far AFA is receiving reports that crews overnighting at the layover hotel are okay, and we have been in contact with several Flight Attendants living in the area who are shaken up but physically fine. There have been at least four aftershocks since the initial earthquake, and we are hearing that they continue.

Here is a live feed from CNN:  https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/alaska-earthquake/index.html

Check the Inflight webpage for updated information and alerts from management.

AFA will not provide any additional updates unless new information becomes available. Our thoughts and prayers to all our crews, their family and friends in Anchorage today!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Terry Taylor, Mario de’Medici, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee