Delta and a large flight attendants union are fighting about whether the company’s new isolation policy for employees who test positive for the coronavirus puts workers and travelers at risk. The airline’s chief legal officer sent a letter on Friday to the Association of Flight Attendants-C.W.A. saying the union had posted “false and defamatory information” about the company’s policies and asking it to correct those statements and stop repeating them. The union, which represents nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines and is seeking to unionize Delta’s flight attendants, responded Tuesday that its statements had been “truthful and accurate.” “Delta has always followed the science to form our policies regarding Covid-19,” the airline said Tuesday. “We sent a cease and desist letter because we believe institutions and leaders must speak carefully, truthfully and factually.” The union’s president, Sara Nelson, said Delta was responsible for confusing workers. “We’re glad that AFA’s calling attention to the issues appears to have led Delta to update its policy several times and communicate this to workers,” Nelson said in her letter, which was addressed to Delta’s CE, Ed Bastian. The dispute concerns Delta’s adherence to a recent change by the CDC, which has shortened the recommended isolation time to five days for people who are vaccinated and who get the virus, so long as their symptoms are resolving and they have no fever. The CDC’s updated guidance was released after Delta executives sent the agency a letter arguing that the previous 10-day isolation period “may significantly impact our work force and operations.” Some public health experts had also called for updated guidelines.<br/>
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Indonesia’s government has filed corruption allegations against its flag carrier, adding to PT Garuda Indonesia’s woes as the airline undergoes a debt restructuring process. The Attorney General will investigate the file submitted by State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir on Tuesday. The case is linked to Garuda’s procurement ATR 72-600 aircraft, although Thohir said there are indications of corruption involving other suppliers. The graft allegation adds to the struggling airline’s list of challenges as the company undergoes a court-ordered debt restructuring process. Its creditors submitted about 198t rupiah ($13.8b) in claims, which is set to be verified next week. The corruption case shouldn’t hinder the restructuring process, Thohir said, as the government has marked out the leasing contracts that show signs of being linked to corruption. His submission is based on the ministry’s audit and the national financial supervision agency. <br/>
Billionaire Indonesian businessman Chairul Tanjung said on Tuesday he will lift his investment in struggling flag carrier Garuda Indonesia after the airline completes a court-led debt restructuring. The announcement came as the government asked prosecutors to begin a graft investigation into some of Garuda's plane leasing contracts. Garuda, which has been battered by the plunge in air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, is undergoing a court-led debt restructuring over unpaid liabilities. "We hope the (court) process will be finished soon," Tanjung told a news conference broadcast by one of his media outlets. "Once it's done, our plan is to increase capital to strengthen (Garuda)," he said, without elaborating. The businessman is Garuda's second-biggest shareholder after the government, holding a 28.3% stake through PT Trans Airways. Garuda said it has total outstanding liabilities of $9.8b. State news agency Antara reported the court had received $13.8b of claims that it will verify by Jan. 19. Separately, state-owned enterprises minister, Erick Thohir, on Tuesday brought to the Attorney General's Office audit documents that he said indicated wrongdoing in Garuda's lease contracts for ATR 72-600 planes. "We know based on valid data that in the procurement process for airplanes, leasing, there are corruption indications with various brands," Erick said.<br/>