Hours after a federal judge on Monday repealed a nationwide mask requirement on planes, trains, buses and other public transportation, the country’s largest airlines said they would stop requiring masks, ending a practice that has been going on for nearly two years. year was in effect for most airlines .
The airlines weighed in after an official in the Biden administration said the Transportation Security Administration would no longer enforce the mask requirement, while the White House reviewed the decision and determined whether to appeal the ruling.
In general, the airlines said they would no longer need masks at airports and on flights within the United States, although several said they would still need them when flying to cities and countries where requirements were still in place. Some airports may also continue to require masks.
Here’s what each of the major national airlines had to say.
US Airlines
In a statement, American said it had “privileged the health and safety” of its employees and customers during the pandemic and supported federal measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. While masks are no longer required at airports and on flights within the United States, the airline said customers and employees can choose to wear them “at their discretion.”
“We are deeply grateful to our team members for maintaining the mandate and will be sharing more information about this transition in the coming days,” said American.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest said in a statement it encouraged employees and customers to “make the best decision to support their personal well-being” about wearing a mask. The airline said safety would remain an “uncompromising priority” on its flights, pointing to the high-quality air filtration on the planes it and other airlines use.
Delta Airlines
While Delta similarly announced it would stop enforcing a mask requirement, the airline also asked for patience as the policy shift rolled out.
“Given the unexpected nature of this announcement, please be aware that customers, airline employees and federal agencies, such as TSA, may receive this information at different times,” it said. “You may face inconsistent enforcement over the next 24 hours as this news becomes more widely communicated – remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not be aware that enforcement is no longer required. Communications with customers and signage and announcements at the airport will be updated to show that masking is now optional – this may take a while.”
United Airlines
United said it would stop mandating masks on domestic flights, but would still be mandatory on flights to countries where a mandate was still in effect.
“While this means that our employees will no longer be required to wear a mask – and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public – they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so. to do, as the CDC continues. to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transport,” the airline said.
Alaska Airlines
In a statement to customers, Alaska pointed to the importance of the moment and said it welcomed the chance to “see your smiling faces” while acknowledging that some are still conflicted about the shift in policy.
“It’s been 24 long months of almost constant change,” said Max Tidwell, the airline’s vice president of safety and security. “I couldn’t be more proud of our frontline employees who have tackled all the focal points, focusing on safety and the care we are known for. We are also grateful to our guests who have remained attentive, patient and stood by us at every turn.”
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue announced its shift in a brief statement, noting that “mask wearing will now be optional,” although customers and flight crews are still “welcome” to wear masks at terminals and on the airline’s planes.
Spirit Airlines
Masks are also now optional on Spirit, the airline said late Monday.
“We understand that some guests may want to continue to wear face coverings on flights, and that’s fine under our optional policy,” it said. “For our guests traveling internationally, remember to check the country-specific airport requirements before traveling.”
Frontier Airlines
Like other airlines, Frontier said it would stop mandating masks on its planes, but warned they could still be required at some airports and in some municipalities.
“Customers and team members must continue to adhere to mask rules within any facility that requires it,” it said. “Under CDC guidelines, regardless of whether or not a mask mandate is in effect, individuals are encouraged to continue wearing masks indoors.”
