Amtrack, United, Delta, and several other airlines all made masks optional following the federal judge’s ruling.
QUICK FACTS:
- American Airlines, Southwest, United, Delta, and Alaska Airlines all dropped their masking requirement within hours, according to HotAir.
- The move comes that day following a federal judge overruling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) mask requirement for public travel.
- The National Review reported that Amtrack also lifted its requirement for masks following U.S. district judge Kathryn Mizelle’s Monday ruling.
- Cheers reportedly went up from passengers as some pilots made the announcement mid-flight that masks were no longer required.
STATEMENTS FROM AIRLINES:
- “Masks are no longer required on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country’s requirements) or at U.S. airports. More comfortable keeping yours on? Go right ahead,” United said in a statement on Twitter.
- Delta notified customers about the changes allow for optional masking but emphasized that “given the unexpected nature of this announcement, please be aware that customers, airline employees and federal agency employees—such as TSA—may be receiving this information at different times.”
- “Customers and team members may choose to continue to wear masks at their discretion,” however, “face masks will no longer be required” for domestic flights, according to American Airlines’ statement.
BACKGROUND:
- Airlines began requiring masks for travel in 2020 near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- However, following a massive increase in masking mandates, the CEOs of ten passenger and cargo airlines called on President Biden to lift the mask mandate in March of 2022.
