A4A Won’t Push for a Federal Transportation Mask Mandate Extension

The federal transportation mask mandate is about to end on September 13. According to this mandate, people will have to wear masks in public transportation including airports and planes. Since CDC eased on masking rules, airports and airplanes have been the few remaining places where you are required to wear a mask.

It’s also the number one reason why there’s an increased report of unruly passengers on planes. The majority of these unruly passengers refused to wear masks.

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, who is also the chairman of Airlines for America (A4A), said that the trade group and Southwest are not recommending an extension of the federal transportation mask mandate.

Federal Transportation Mask Mandate Extension As Delta Variant Spreads?

President Biden announced the federal transportation mask mandate in January. The goal is to protect the passengers’ and flight crews’ health and improve mask compliance. This means that travelers will have to wear masks on trains, buses, planes, airports, and other transportation hubs. It was originally only up to May. But with the COVID situation in the US, it was extended until September 13.

Kelly said that airlines support the mask guidelines set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the latest guidance, only unvaccinated individuals should be wearing a mask. He added though that “we wouldn’t advocate from Southwest’s perspective, or the A4A for that matter, extending the mandate”.

Kelly isn’t sure if the Transportation Security Administration will extend or lift the mandate. According to Kelly, “That’s a political question, to a degree”.

The recent surge of COVID cases in the US is something that can affect the decision of TSA. Delta variant is now the dominant strain in the US. CDC currently has no comment regarding the status of the mask mandate. Caitlin Shockey in an email said that “We can’t comment on pending regulatory discussions as to the future of the order”.

American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said that “What they decide, we’ll enforce”.