masks

Tag Archives for masks.

Is The Air Travel Mask Mandate About To Get Extended Again?

by Gary Leff on April 11, 2022

Apr 11 2022

We’re a week away from the expiration of the transportation mask mandate, and masks are generally required only on planes, trains, buses and automobiles (and in certain backward parts of the country, preschools). However Philadelphia just imposed an indoor mask mandate and that potentially makes it more difficult for the Biden administration to take a more permissive (albeit purely symbolic) stance. However we’re no longer in a place where public mandates are needed.

Masks For Thee But Not For Me, Airline & Airport CEO Edition

by Gary Leff on March 30, 2022

Mar 30 2022

Delta held a ribbon-cutting for the terminal 2-3 headhouse at LAX today. It opens to passengers April 20.

There was something striking about the event. The audience was well-masked, per federal regulations. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Delta CEO Ed Bastian? Not so much.

American Airlines CEO: When Feds Drop Mask Mandate, We Will Too

by Gary Leff on March 22, 2022

Mar 22 2022

Outgoing American Airlines CEO Doug Parker answered the question once and for all about what American will do when the federal government no longer requires masks on planes – American will lift its requirement, too. In fact he no longer sees it as an airline requirement at all, just a federal one.

Here’s what Parker told a gathering of employees in a Crew News internal questiona and answer session.

Are We About To See All The Banned Passengers During The Pandemic Flying Again?

by Gary Leff on March 19, 2022

Mar 19 2022

With the federal transportation mask mandate expected to come to an end in less than a month, we can expect to see many of the thousands of passengers banned by airlines over masks to return to the skies. That’s because, unlike bans for violent or other abusive behavior, banks over masks were often considered temporary.

The One Thing That Could Extend The Air Travel Mask Mandate Past April 18

by Gary Leff on March 17, 2022

Mar 17 2022

The federal transportation mask mandate should have been lifted, or allowed to expire March 18. However it was extended – for just one month. And the broad expectation is that it will end in mid-April, as part of the administration declaring victory on Covid-19. There’s a strong political reason to do so before the mid-term elections. And it makes good sense, too.

But one thing could still change this.

Several European Airlines Now Refusing To Enforce Government Mask Rules

by Gary Leff on March 16, 2022

Mar 16 2022

Much like in the U.S., Dutch mask mandates are falling away everywhere… except on airlines and in airports. So four Dutch airlines led by KLM have decided this is so stupid, they’re just going to stop enforcing it starting March 23.

British Airways, meanwhile, announced an end to their mask mandate – but reportedly has told crew the rule remains in place definitely anyway.

Senate Votes To End Air Travel Mask Mandate

by Gary Leff on March 16, 2022

Mar 16 2022

The federal transportation mask mandate was extended through April 18 for no good reason, other than political fear from the Biden administration (that some new variant would come along) and political opportunism (they weren’t yet ready to declare victory and removing the ban will be useful as part of that).

The Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate has now voted 57-40 to overturn the transportation mask mandate. Here’s what to expect,

British Airways Becomes Largest Airline To Drop Mask Rules

by Gary Leff on March 14, 2022

Mar 14 2022

British Airways has followed the lead of some other U.K. carriers in announcing the end of its mask mandate effective March 16, except where they’re required to continue imposing one such as flights to the U.S. and to Italy.

Federal Air Travel Mask Mandate Extended One Month

by Gary Leff on March 10, 2022

Mar 10 2022

The Biden administration wasn’t quite ready to let the federal transportation mask mandate lapse, out of fear they’d look stupid if Covid-19 cases surged again. But they know the mandate is on its last legs. Every state is eliminating its indoor mask mandates (or has already done so). Even if cloth masks were effective against the Omicron variant, this mandate would do very little on its own.

The federal mask mandate for commercial airlines, airports, trains and buses was set to end March 18. It will be extended through April 18. That one month extension, announced a mere 8 days before the rule would have lapsed, is the shortest extension yet. And, barring unforeseen events, is likely to be the last.

With Only 9 Days Left For The Federal Mask Mandate, Disarray Over Whether It’s Extended

by Gary Leff on March 9, 2022

Mar 09 2022

The fact that the transportation mask mandate is set to end in nine days and no decision about its future has been announced yet – or even leaked – tells me that the administration has had internal disagreement and uncertainty on what to do with it.

While I anticipated Russia’s invasion of Ukraine I didn’t anticipate that it could play into the decision over whether to extend the federal transportation mask mandate. But the decision is ultimately a political one, and current politics could move up when the mandate gets lifted – no longer having to wait until close to the midterms.