January2021: President Joe Biden announces federal mask mandate for travel with an initial expiration date of May 11. Learn more atSouthwest.com/citizenshipabout how Southwest Airlines leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world. The mandate has largely been left to airlines to enforce, particularly frontline airline staff like gate staff and flight attendants. 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. New Arrival. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. So every time you fly, your friend can too. A guide to the airlines on which face masks are optional rather than an obligation, including Southwest, United, American, Delta, British Airways and others. No horrific parking, no security lines, no strict TSA policies, no crowds, no waiting around. Spirit Airlines: Face masks are optional on flights for passengers and crew. In this 2020 photo, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant prepares a plane for takeoff at the Kansas City International airport in Kansas City, Mo. #call_to_action_qdnph80bc1i, #call_to_action_oxew9f4k2gj{color:#ffffff;} of Transportation most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded 2)fulltime-equivalent active Employees 3) 1973-2019 annual profitability, Media Contacts: Visit the Southwest Newsroom atswamedia.comfor multimedia assets and other Company news. Children under the age of 2 and those with certain disabilities are exempt. left: 277px !important; If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Don't forget to bring a mask. "If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us via dm!". Feb. 22, 2022 4:21 PM PT The largest union representing U.S. flight attendants expects a federal order mandating face masks for air passengers and other travelers will be extended again, even. Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider in March that he is concerned about the "uneven set of policies" that makes "airlines and airports look like the bad guys.". United, American, Southwest, Delta, Alaska and other airlines said late Monday they were dropping their face mask requirement effective immediately, given a federal judge's ruling in Florida. "While this means that our employees are no longer 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, as the CDC continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit,'' the airline said in a statement. Well continue to monitor public health guidance, and federal requirements, while always keeping safety as our uncompromising priority. "Customers of course remain free to wear them if they choose," the airline said in a memo to employees. "We understand some guests may want to continue wearing face coverings on flights, and thats perfectly fine under our optional policy," the airline said in a statement. There have been 607 unruly passenger incidents in 2022, 397 of which were tied to masks, theFederal Aviation Administration reported this week. (The company said his compensation was set before the pandemic.) The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, a large union representing flight attendants at airlines including United, Alaska, Hawaiian, Spirit and Frontier, expects it will be extended again. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. /* Air Booking Select - Fare benefit first th width */ background-color: #3b5998 !important; By. 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Under President Trump, there was no government mandate around masking, but airlines, including Delta, issued their own mask requirements dating back to the start of the pandemic in spring 2020.. Southwest Airlines: No. Southwest Airlines Co. All Rights Reserved. "We will continue to closely monitor the situation in the event of changes.". It looks like the mask mandate on airplanes won't be in place an extra two weeks after all. color: #636363; 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. Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. The extension is based on a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Computers become increasingly capable and powerful by the year, and new hardware is often the most visible cue for technological progress. Following the decision, American Airlines . CDC warns US travelers to avoid nearly 60% of international destinations, Woman refuses to wear mask on flight to London, so pilot heads back to Florida, Delta passenger removed from flight after mask dispute, $500 to $1,000for first offenders and $1,000 to $3,000 for repeat offenders, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Such bets often pay off, since increasingly, the plight of a companys customers and employees is divorced from the immediate fortunes of its current top executives. (Europe has such a rule, though the implementation has hit a lot of snags.). While no longer required, customers and crewmembers are welcome to continue wearing masks in our terminals and on board our aircraft." Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines both directed. Which brings us back to Southwest. The U.S. government and businesses spent a staggering $100 billion to fix the underlying problem in a massive, multiyear effort. We are looking at a summer with more demand than weve seen since 2019. "There is risk we may see some of that in North America and it's all dependent on case rates," Rob Morris, head of airline analytics company Ascend by Cirium, said. 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.". TSA's travel mask mandate has been extended a month, to April 18, 2022. Aviation is a world-wide network that harmonizes safety procedures around the world. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox. The U.S. has fairly robust vaccination rates, although a portion of the population has not. .swa-footer--copyright-text a:hover{ Southwest concedes that technology played a role in the fiasco but without acknowledging past decisions contributing to why this happened now. color: #636363; We had available crews and aircraft, but our technology struggled to align our resources due to the magnitude and scale of the disruptions. position: absolute; Thereafter, the White House announced the masking order is not in effect, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce the federal mask mandate at this time. Now that many countries have reopened and . "For our guests traveling internationally, please remember to check country-specific airport requirements before traveling.". Reuters. 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.". left: 467px !important; height: 6px; S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. the airline tweeted. Email. Southwest Airlines allows passengers to wear a disposable mask or cloth face covering with at least two layers of tightly woven breathable fabric. However, masks may still be required on routes to certain destinations. That formula for success brought industry-leading prosperity and 47 consecutive years3of profitability for Southwest Shareholders (NYSE: LUV). The mandate is currently set to end on April 18. html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > b:nth-child(6) { We flew JetSuiteX for the first time to Las Vegas and had a wonderful time. Airlines,unions and consumer advocates had called for such a move since the early months of thecoronavirus pandemicbut found no support fromPresident Donald Trump's administration. Southwest informs travelers that while federal law no longer requires that masks be worn in the airport or on the airplane, "you're always welcome to wear a mask while traveling if you prefer toif you need one at the airport or onboard, we'll have them ready." United Airlines: Masks are optional. Monday, April 18, 2022, 7:00 PM. 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.". That's why Spirit has double-downed on the mask policy. One of the biggest things they are saying is, We are sick of this confrontation we are having on flights, Orlando said. March 15, 2022 6:34pm. So Im really happy for them.. Southwest Airlines Flight Crews Urge White House to Drop Face Mask Mandate Passengers can face fines of $500 to $1,000 for a first offense for not wearing masks and $1,000 to $3,000 for a second . With the mandate now expired, several US airlines are joining a handful of European carriers by dropping the rule on aircraft. Update: On April 18, 2022, a federal judge struck down the federal mask mandate. The mandate has been extended three times since it went into effect in February 2021. "It makes no sense that people are still required to wear masks on airplanes, yet are allowed to congregate in crowded restaurants, schools, and at sporting events without masks, despite none of these venues having the protective air filtration system that aircraft do," executives from the US' largest carriers said in a March 23 letter to Biden. So far we dont see a rise in hospitalizations, Jordan said. On Monday, a Florida federal judge struck down Biden's mask rule, and most US carriers have now made them optional. With a stronger policy, enforcement is easier. You'll get the latest news, information, and promotional offers from Southwest all in one sweet email. .compare-fares-secondary--row:nth-of-type(10) .compare-fares-secondary--header-cell .compare-fares-secondary--label div::after { HOUSTON (KIAH) Locally, Southwest Airlines that flies out of Houstons Hobby Airport and Bush Intercontinental Airport, issued a statement dropping the mask mandate. May 2020: JetBlue Airways becomes thefirst U.S. airline to require masks for passengers, a policy quickly matched by other airlines. html[lang="es"] .header-flyout--promo-section .link--text div { font-size: 12px !important; } For international travel, mask requirements remain dependent on the arrival/departure country's regulations. However, the past few months have shown a decline in COVID cases, and many places around the world are dropping the mask mandate altogether. However, masks are still required on service to Canada, the US, Germany (except Frankfurt), and Paris. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. A Southwest Airlines flight attendant, wearing one mask, demonstrates the use of an oxygen mask at the outset of flight from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas in June 2021. 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"You may experience inconsistent enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news is more broadly communicated remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not be aware enforcement is no longer required. The union for flight attendants at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is asking the White House and other aviation regulators to drop face mask mandates that have become a hallmark of flying during . But if the fines are too small, companies will just see them as a cost of doing business and carry on. The court ruling moved up the timeline, barring any appeals, so passengers boarding flights late Monday did so without masks for the first time in nearly two years. /* Air Booking Select - Fare benefit sub-label workaround */ Its been an open secret within Southwest for some time, and a shameful one, that the company desperately needed to modernize its scheduling systems. Keep reading for a list of major U.S. airlines and their masking policies. Charlie Riedel/AP "The mask requirement remains in place and we will continue to assess the duration of the requirement in consultation with CDC," Transportation Security Administration spokesperson Robert Langston said in a statement Friday. "Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend guests defer to local port guidance when traveling, including wearing a mask if directed to do so. We appreciate the cooperation and compliance efforts of our Customers and Employees as policies have evolved. While aging code is a common cause of technical debt in older companies such as with airlines, which started automating early it can also be found in newer systems, because software can be written in a rapid and shoddy way, rather than in a more resilient manner that makes it more dependable and easier to fix or expand. 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. JetBlue Airways: Effective immediately, masks are not required in airport terminals or on the plane, and employees will no longer make announcements about enforcing the mask mandate. I think its a great thing, Jordan told Fortune on Tuesday. "We encourage individuals to make the best. A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 passenger plane takes off from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Citing the changing guidelines surrounding hospitalization rates and local pandemic requirements, a number of travel industry stakeholders had hoped to see the mask mandate expire on the original March 18 cutoff. Every night, we deep clean each plane from nose to tail for more than 6 hours. For additional information, we also invite you to contactAirlines for America, our trade association, for an industry perspective on this development. content: "(Temporarily suspended. In the letter, the heads of Jet Blue, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines and others said the requirement is no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment.. "We understand there are a number of opinions on this topic, and we ask that you respect and support the individual decisions made by others that is how we will show hospitality and make customers and cohearts (Southwest employees) feel welcomed, cared for, and appreciated," Steve Goldberg, Southwest's senior vice president of operations and hospitality, said in a memo to employees late Monday. Offer ends 3/13/2023. In a statement announcing the removal of the mask requirement, Southwest emphasized that the decision to unmask would come down to the individual traveler. 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