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American Airlines, Southwest Flight Attendants Oppose Knives On Planes

DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - The plan to let airline passengers carry small knives on board planes will be grounded, if some flight attendant groups have their way.

The flight attendants union for Southwest Airlines has joined a coalition of groups calling for a reversal of the plan to allow passengers to carry small knives.

Executives with American Airlines issued a letter to the TSA today, also asking for a reassessment of the planned rule change.

"We encourage the agency to reassess its planned revisions," the letter reads.

The new policy is also not sitting well Stacy Martin, president of the flight attendants union for Southwest Airlines. He represents 11-thousand members.

"Our message to the TSA is the same. We want to stay with the rules that were in place before they made this announcement," says Martin. "We need consistency for crew members and for the traveling public."

By late April, air travelers screened at airport security checkpoints will be allowed to have and keep knives with blades just under two-and-a-half inches in length. The rule matches international airport safety standards.

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