The US requirements for masks on airlines have ended, and several international airlines, particularly in Europe, have recently eliminated mandatory masking on flights, as well. "We advise travelers to stay informed and follow mask requirements that may remain in effect at their origin or arrival airports," the airline tweeted. JetBlue Airwayswas the first carrier to announce the move, and other airlines quickly matched itspolicy. However, some British carriers have been facing staffing shortages as a result of the nixed mask policy, forcing them to cancel hundreds of flights. Do you use HEPA filters onboard your plane? "On flights where using a mask is an authority requirement, you are required to wear a mask throughout the flight. Specifically, people on flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Isle of Man, Denmark, Sweden, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Hungary, Iceland, and Poland can ditch face coverings onboard. Among its recommendations, the travel organizations asked that the White House collaborate internationally to "normalize" travel conditions and entry requirements. Then when the pandemic hit, like other airlines, Southwest received billions from the government in grants and low-interest loans. Terms & Conditions. .facebook-share-button-command--button { as well as other partner offers and accept our. /* Air Booking Select - Fare benefit first th width */ ", The Netherlandshas scrapped the mask mandate for public transportation on March 23, except for in airports and on aircraft. text-decoration: none !important; If you had the option of not adhering to strict earthquake or fire codes i.e., if there was little or no regulation or oversight it would almost inevitably be cheaper and quicker to skip such niceties. For additional information, we also invite you to contact Airlines for America, our trade association, for an industry perspective on this development. reportedly became irate over being forced to wear a mask, group of airline leaders sent a letter to President Joe Biden. In a statement Thursday, TSA said the CDC will work on a "revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor.". This sexist 1950s article offers a pro tip on how to snag a husband at the airport. You'll get the latest news, information, and promotional offers from Southwest all in one sweet email. Its a bit like constructing a building. .swa-footer--copyright-text, .footer-copyright--text { Update: On April 18, 2022, a federal judge struck down the federal mask mandate. } Overseas airlines are having to cancel hundreds of flights as they grapple with coronavirus -related staffing shortages weeks after they ditched rules . The number of reported cases in the U.S. jumped nearly 20% the week of April 13, according to the CDC, compared to the previous week. The mask mandate on public transportation was implemented in January 2021 by President Joe Biden and the policy was set to expire on March 18 but was extended to April 18, and then again to May 3, frustrating travelers and surprising some analysts. Read more about COVID-19 policies and rules, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. "It is very safe and high-quality compared to any other indoor setting. For example, if crew members from Buffalo dont arrive in Baltimore because their flight was canceled, the employees have had to manually call in to let the company know where they are and get hotels arranged for them. html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > span.swa-icon.swa-icon_small.swa-icon_external-link-box { Alaska Airlines "Due to a judicial decision in our federal court system, the mask mandate has been overturned, which means our guests and employees have the option to wear a mask while traveling . Youre always welcome to wear a mask while traveling if you prefer toif you need one at the airport or onboard, well have them ready. "Customers of course remain free to wear them if they choose," the airline said in a memo to employees. A Dutch flag carrier KLM spokesperson told TPG it finds the decision "inappropriate, given the phase the pandemic is in,"and said it will "no longer monitor this from March 23," and instead "strongly recommend that our passengers wear a face mask on board in line with EASA and ICAO guidelines.". } As of April 13, 65.8% of the total U.S. population has been fully vaccinated. Technical debt is real debt. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Communications to customers and in-airport signage and announcements will be updated to share that masking is now optional this may take a short period of time.". Four people, including a juvenile, were found dead in a Brevard County home, according to sheriffs office. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. As a result of this development, effective immediately, Southwest Employees and Customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask on flights, at domestic airports, and at. COVID-19 travel restrictions, quarantine and testing information. left: 482px !important; resulting in depressurization of the cabin and deployment of the oxygen masks. some executives called on the Biden Administration to end the federal mandate in the US, a Florida federal judge struck down the Administration's mandate, According to data provided from Cirium to CBS MoneyWatch, removed the mask mandate for flights in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway in October, The Netherlandshas scrapped the mask mandate. Use of the Southwest websites and our Company Information constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions. display: block; Breeze Airways: Masks are no longer required for guests or employees on Breeze flights. Follow us on social media, follow us on our blog, and signup to receive important email news alerts. In mid-January, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said it was premature to speculate on when passengers would be able to fly without masks. } Likewise, in October of 2021, when Southwest experienced another cancellation crisis, the president of the pilots union pointed out that the antiquated crew-scheduling technology was leading to cascading disruptions. .compare-fares-secondary--row:nth-of-type(10) .compare-fares-secondary--header-cell .compare-fares-secondary--label div::after { left: 278px !important; Its also critical that we maintain passenger confidence in the safety of air travel.". Every night, we deep clean each plane from nose to tail for more than 6 hours. These are the kind of efforts that may not be widely visible but make all the difference. The group -- which includes the heads of American Airlines . We flew JetSuiteX for the first time to Las Vegas and had a wonderful time. The U.S. government and businesses spent a staggering $100 billion to fix the underlying problem in a massive, multiyear effort. For more information, please visitSouthwest.com/wannaoffsetcarbon. As a result, our crew schedulers tackled the issue manually, which is a tedious, long process that takes time and trained resources to accomplish.. Throughout the past year, the flight attendants union picketed in front of various airports as part of their contract negotiations. "We look forward to seeing your smiles on board & encourage kindness & respect for those who continue to mask," it said. Southwest had an old system, and Montgomery said it broke down during even mild hiccups, forcing the employees to call in. #FlyoutTrigger_5 > div > div > div.overlay-container--flyout-content > div > div.header-flyout--content-section > div:nth-child(3) > a:hover .link--text b * { For example, after the 2017 Equifax breach, which exposed sensitive information from 143 million Americans because the company failed to institute a routine security update to its software, it agreed to pay a penalty of at least $575 million to the Federal Trade Commission. However, children under five are not eligible for the vaccine, and they can be less effective on people who are immunocompromised. "Please be kind and respectful of individual choices, and remember that wearing a mask while flying on Breeze is still an option if you choose to do so," the company noted. The company said that as of February 12 when the mandate was lifted in Scandinavia, it has "noticed increased passenger demand and optimism in regards to booking ahead for both leisure and business travel. April 18, 2022 After a federal judge struck down a nationwide mask requirement for airplanes, trains, buses and other public transportation on Monday, the country's largest airlines said they. The U.S. has fairly robust vaccination rates, although a portion of the population has not. } Following the decision, American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest quickly announced that passengers and staff would no longer be asked to wear masks on their planes. position: absolute; Learn more atSouthwest.com/citizenshipabout how Southwest Airlines leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world. "We appreciate your patience and understanding as we update our communications and announcements to reflect this change.". In a statement announcing the removal of the mask requirement, Southwest emphasized that the decision to unmask would come down to the individual traveler. A group of CEOs from all major U.S. airlines called on President Joe Biden to lift the federal mask mandate on public transportation. We encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing and to check local airport mask policies when traveling. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reshaped the global economy, along with the day-to-day lives of almost everyone on earth. The extension is based on a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Test at least five days after exposure and if result is positive, go into isolation for five days. A placard declaring, Another victim of SWAs outdated technology, with a graphic showing a stuck software progress bar. March 15, 2022 6:34pm. ", JetBlue tweeted on Monday that masks are no longer required on board, but said "while no longer required, customers and crewmembers may continue wearing masks in our terminals and onboard our aircraft. In the years before the pandemic, while the companys aging scheduling technology groaned, the company spent $8.5 billion of its excess cash on purchasing its own stock a common practice among airlines, which helps increase the value of the stock, the main form of compensation for many executives. Computers become increasingly capable and powerful by the year, and new hardware is often the most visible cue for technological progress. Meanwhile, my not-that-fancy smartphones memory holds what not that long ago would have been an unimaginable 128GB, or 137,438,953,472 bytes. No, federal law no longer requires that masks be worn in the airport or on the plane, but certain cities or states may still be requiring them at their airports. External site which may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Breeze said on its website that masks are now optional on its flights. Airlines have not come out with a public stance on whether the mandate should be extended. The travel extension comes two weeks after the CDC relaxed its mask guidance for communities where hospitals aren't under high strain, and as states around the country and across the political spectrum have relaxed a number of precautionary measures, including on indoor mask usage. Like recent guidance regarding masks in other settings, the CDC says any revision will be based on the levels of COVID-19 at the community level, as well as on the risk of new variants, national data and the latest science. In a tweet, Avelo said masks are no longer required on board. white-space: normal; ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. Southwest Airlines Co.operates one of the worlds most admired and awarded airlines, offering its one-of-a-kind value and Hospitality at 121 airports across 11 countries. Companies can also be substantively fined for major failures like this one. the airline tweeted. #call_to_action_qdnph80bc1i, #call_to_action_oxew9f4k2gj{color:#ffffff;} Montgomery told me that employees had sent in screenshots that showed their being left on hold on the phone for three, six, seven, eight and 12 hours and even one of 17 hours just to let the company know their whereabouts and get hotel rooms arranged. Tweet. The Transportation Security Administration is extending the current mandate for mask use on public transportation and in transportation hubs through April 18. This list will be updated as U.S. airlines update their rules. an estimated net worth in the tens of millions of dollars. HOUSTON (KIAH) Locally, Southwest Airlines that flies out of Houstons Hobby Airport and Bush Intercontinental Airport, issued a statement dropping the mask mandate. But that didnt happen, and some people may believe that the implication is that technical debt is not a big deal. Offer ends 3/13/2023. As a result of this development, effective immediately, masks are no longer required onboard Southwest Airlines, or in most airports, but certain cities, states, and countries may still require masks. right: 25px; The aircraft landed safely. AVOID TRAVEL: CDC warns US travelers to avoid nearly 60% of international destinations. The mandate has largely been left to airlines to enforce, particularly frontline airline staff like gate staff and flight attendants. A Feb. 25 letter to Jeffrey Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, asked that the Biden administration repeal the travel mask mandate and roll back other precautionary travel measures. Airlines including Delta, American, United and Southwest, plus cargo carriers and industry group Airlines for America, are all calling for an end to both the mask mandate on public. /* Air Booking Select - Fare benefit sub-label workaround */ The group cites the dramatic drop in cases and an increase in verbal and physical attacks related to enforcing the mandate. color: #636363; With this mandate in place, there has been a rise in onboard incidents that have harmed flight attendants, delayed or . Make sure to check any airport youre traveling to before arriving to know their policies. . This problem relying on older or deficient software that needs updating is known as incurring technical debt, meaning there is a gap between what the software needs to be and what it is. With COVID cases on the decline, some European airlines have also dropped the mandate on certain routes. The federal rule that requires . With a stronger policy, enforcement is easier. What were talking about here is choice, Jordan said. Now, anyone on those flights can go maskless if they want to, and Southwest CEO Robert E. Jordan is all for it. Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you. html[lang="es"] .header-flyout--promo-section .link--text div:nth-of-type(1) { font-size: ; } For airlines, they might mean holding them responsible for the problems their miserly approach causes to the flying public. (opens popup). font-weight: bold; Soon after, the TSA said it would no longer enforce mask-wearing on planes or other public transportation but noted the"CDC recommends that people continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.". April 2021: Federal mask mandateextended through Sept. 13. "I think the case is very strong that masks don't add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment," Kelly said. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. United said in an April 18 email to Insider that "masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country's mask requirements) or at US airports. NBC 5 News. A guide to the airlines on which face masks are optional rather than an obligation, including Southwest, United, American, Delta, British Airways and others. Appreciate your patience and understanding as we update our communications and announcements to reflect change... Part of their contract negotiations high-quality compared to any other indoor setting also dropped mandate! Resulting in depressurization of the total U.S. population has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this, and people... Days after exposure and if result is positive, go into isolation for days. 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