Hours after a federal judge issued a nationwide mask-wearing requirement for planes, trains, buses and other public transportation on Monday, the land’s largest airlines The country said it would stop requiring masks, ending a practice that has been in place for most airlines for nearly two years.
Airlines weighed in after a Biden administration official said the Transportation Security Administration would no longer enforce the mask requirement while the White House reviews the decision and determines whether it whether or not to appeal the ruling.
In general, airlines have said they will no longer require masks at airports and on flights within the US, although some have said they will still require them when flying to cities and countries. still required. Some airports may also continue to require masks.
Here’s what each major national airline had to say.
American Airlines
In a statement, American said it has “prioritized the health and safety” of its employees and customers throughout the pandemic and supported federal measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. While masks will no longer be required at airports and on flights within the United States, the airline said customers and employees can choose to wear them “at their own discretion.”
“We are deeply grateful to our team members for their duty and will share more information about this transition in the coming days,” American said.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest said in a statement that it is encouraging employees and customers to “make the best decisions to support their individual health” about whether to wear masks. The airline said safety on its flights would remain an “uncompromising priority”, pointing to the premium air filtration on planes used by it and other carriers.
Delta Airlines
While Delta similarly announced that it would stop enforcing the mask requirement, the airline also asked for patience as the policy change rolled out.
“Due to the unexpected nature of this announcement, please note that customers, airline employees, and federal agency employees, such as the TSA, may receive this information at different times, ‘ it said. “You may experience inconsistent enforcement over the next 24 hours as this news is more widely communicated – remember to show understanding and patience to others who may not be aware of enforcement still mandatory. Customer communications and signage and notices in the airport will be updated to share that wearing a mask is now optional – this could take a while. ”
United Airlines
United says it will stop requiring masks on domestic flights, but they will still be required on flights to countries that are still in force.
“While this means our employees are no longer required to wear masks – and no longer have to enforce the mask requirement for most of the flying public – they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC continues to recommend actually wearing masks in public transit,” the airline said.
Alaska Airlines
In a statement to customers, Alaska noted the importance of this moment and said it welcomes the opportunity to “see your smiling face,” while acknowledging that some may still feel conflicted. conflicting policy changes.
“It’s been a long 24 months with near-constant change,” said Max Tidwell, vice president of security and safety for the airline. “I couldn’t be prouder of our frontline workers who handled every problem with the focus on safety and care we are known for. We also thank our guests for being attentive, patient, and with us throughout every turn. ”
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue announced its change in a short statement, noting that “masking will now be optional”, although customers and flight crews are still “welcome” to wear masks in the terminal and on the airline’s aircraft.
Spirit Airlines
The airline said late Monday, masks were also optional for Spirit.
“We understand that some passengers may want to continue to wear face coverings on flights and that’s perfectly fine under our preference policy.” “For our guests traveling internationally, please remember to check the airport-specific country requirements prior to departure.”
Frontier Airlines
Like other airlines, Frontier said it would stop requiring masks on its planes, but warned that they may still be required at some airports and in some autonomous cities.
“Customers and team members should continue to adhere to mask rules in any establishment that may require it,” it said. “According to CDC guidance, regardless of whether mask regulations are in effect, individuals are encouraged to continue wearing masks in indoor settings.”
