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US Airways Says Nuts to Peanuts

By Dan Schlossberg
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 7, 2006

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Peanuts come in jars, cans, and bags but not in the passenger cabins of US Airways. For the second time in the last 10 years, the airline has decided the snack is peanut non grata.

After the carrier exhausts its peanut supply sometime this month, it will substitute pretzels or bags of mixed nuts that are peanut-free. This time, airline spokesmen say, there's no going back.

US Airways made the move in response to growing complaints from passengers who are allergic to the otherwise-popular snack. Health authorities warn that even traces of peanut dust can be enough to set off an allergic reaction.

US Airways is not the first airline to stop serving peanuts and probably won't be the last. Other carriers quit carrying them after fielding complaints not only from passengers but also from peanut allergy groups who warned of possible bad reactions during flights.

The airline had stopped serving peanuts more than six years ago but started again after merging with America West last year.

Addressing the move, US Airways representative Valerie Wunder said, "We are trying to help a large percentage of the population. We haven't had any backlash. Our flights but may not be totally peanut-free but we will no longer serve them."

There seems to be some truth to the rumor that the Arizona-based airline is just coming out of its shell.

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