American Airlines fails to conduct background checks on cleaning contractors

Background screenings are part of a majority of small and major companies' hiring practices. While they serve a practical financial purpose, they're also necessary to ensure customers' safety.

 However, some employees at American Airlines are raising concerns that the company's Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport office is using third-party contractors without performing the necessary background checks, KXAS-TV reports. Crews that were being used from Air Serv to clean and inspect planes prior to takeoff lacked IDs, badges and credentials, according to the news source. Furthermore, DFW wasn't the only airport to receive such complaints. "We are currently working with Air Serv to handle some of our cabin cleaning," American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said. "As is typical with a vendor, we had a few hiccups during the first days; however things with Air Serv have greatly improved since then. We hold our contractors to the same high standards as our in-house employees." The switch to contractors doesn't appear to have improved service, though. The Dallas Business Journal reports that more than 300 flights were delayed at DFW due to the change in cleaning services.