Several airlines have made the use of a mask optional for both passengers and employees after the sentence of the judge on Monday that impacted down the traffic masking rules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Delta, United and American are among the carriers that will no longer require masks.
“Immediately effective, the masks are optional for all airport employees, crew members and customers within U.S. airports and on board aircraft,” Delta Air Lines said in a statement. Delta noted that the sudden nature of the ruling and the announcement by the Biden administration that the Transportation Security Agency would no longer enforce the mandate meant that passengers could experience “inconsistent enforcement over the next 24 hours.” .
“Remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not know that the application is no longer necessary,” the airline said.
United Airlines also announced Monday that “As of now, masks are no longer required for United on domestic flights, selected international flights (depending on the mask requirements of the country of arrival) or at US airports.”
American Airlines also made the use of a mask optional on Monday, saying “face masks will no longer be needed for our customers and team members at U.S. airports and domestic flights.”
Alaska Airlines said Monday that masks would be optional at airports and “immediately effective” aircraft. Alaska also addressed the issue of passengers who had been banned from traveling because of their refusal to comply with the mask mandate, saying that “we will have some guests whose behavior was especially flagrant that they will continue to be banned, even after that the mask policy be rescinded “.
The four airlines noted that those who decide to continue wearing face masks can still do so.
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa on Monday overturned the CDC’s mask warrant, ruling that “the mask warrant exceeds the CDC’s statutory authority and violates procedures required by Tampa regulations.” agency according to the APA “.
The mask’s term had expired on Monday, but the CDC extend it until May 3rd due to concerns about the increase in cases caused by the BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron strain.
The largest airlines in the United States had previously pressured the Biden administration to do so terminate the term, arguing that the air filtration systems of their aircraft combined with the increased immunity of vaccinations made the mandate unnecessary. Carriers also noted that mask warrants were being lifted for restaurants and other indoor venues.
- In:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- facial mask
- CDC guidelines
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