A321
Flight Attendant Current
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Company Policy; Human Factors
I was the Number 1. Agent came down to board. We still had not been catered. Agent called for catering. We're informed they're running late; cannot cater through the 1R (Number 1 Right Hand Cabin Door) due to equipment and gates/ac (Aircraft) being too close. Catering said they will bring carts up through the aisle once boarding is complete.  I told the agent this is unacceptable as carts are not allowed out in the aisle on the ground during or even after boarding is complete. We will have to delay boarding. I then informed the pilots of the situation. Another agent came down to say the tower said it was ok and to board. Once again I explained the safety aspect of why this can't be done. Then 2 [Service Managers] came down and said the FAA allows [this airport] to bring catering carts through the aisle on the ground with a fully boarded aircraft. This is not safe.  Carts would be blocking egress to pax exit in the event of an emergency deplaning.I contend this is a safety violation as carts in the aisle on the ground block egress to passengers only exit in an emergency deplaning; that of 1L (1 Left Hand Cabin Door.) Caterers are not allowed to enter the aisle with carts during deplaning until all passengers have exited. Additionally; we are prohibited from bringing carts out on a ground delay and that's with every emergency exit door being armed. Why is ZZZ treating boarding as an exception to safety? They are compromising passenger safety and I categorically view this as a safety violation.
Flight Attendant reported being told by Gate Agents and Managers to allow catering to bring carts down the aisle after passengers are boarded in violation of company safety policy.