BROWARD COUNTY, FL- Broward County Commissioner and former Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen is calling for all commercial passenger air traffic in and out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to be halted until May 1. 

“Considering that the virus is being spread by people with no symptoms, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Allowing people from New York, New Orleans and other hot spots to fly into Broward County can only spread the virus even more," said Bogen.

Commissioner Bogen says the federal government should provide subsidies to the airlines for ceasing passenger traffic for the remainder of this month. While cargo and private air charter would be a necessity, Commissioner Bogen believes that until we stop the movement of people by commercial air traffic, the virus will continue to infect communities.    

Bogen applauds Spirit Airlines for voluntarily stopping flights between the New York area and South Florida. " If we cannot stop commercial passenger air traffic during the month of April then at the very least all airlines need to follow the lead of Spirit Airlines and stop flying from cities that are deemed "hot spots," said Bogen.

Bogen will bring this issue to the Broward County Commission to determine available options to either stop or curtail air traffic. "Many passengers who are asymptomatic are infecting other passengers and causing coronavirus outbreaks in communities throughout the nation. Unless this country takes drastic action for a 30-day period, this problem with be with us for a long time. We cannot Band-Aid or treat this issue on a regional basis," said Bogen.   

Bogen was the first elected official in the United States to call for the grounding of the 737 Max 8, which remains out of service to this day.   

April 3, 2020

MEDIA CONTACT:

Susan Orlowski

sorlowski@broward.org

(816) 255-5888

Mark Bogen

mbogen@broward.org

(702) 210-7545