So there’s no more mask mandate on U.S. planes. Does that affect my trip?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/04/2022 (885 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Masks are no longer required on U.S. transit after a Florida judge ruled COVID-19 mask requirements unlawful.

The move effectively means masks are no longer required by U.S. airlines for the first time since February 2021, when the Biden administration first implemented the rules.

The change has no affect on Canadian airlines, but could affect Canadians travelling to the States.

Here’s what to know about the mask mandate lifting and whether it will affect your upcoming trip.

What actually changed about the rules for masking on U.S. flights?

The short answer is that masks are no longer required, immediately, on U.S. flights and other transit modes previously affected by the mandate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) brought in rules in February 2021 requiring all people in the U.S. to wear masks on airplanes, trains, taxis and transit hubs, which has been enforced by the Transportation Security Administration.

Florida U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle on Monday ruled the mask requirements overstepped the authority of the CDC and didn’t face adequate consultation from the public.

After Mizelle’s decision, the CDC stated that its masking rules would no longer be enforced.

It does, however, still recommend masking on indoor public transportation.

Weren’t they going to lift the mask mandates on flights pretty soon anyways?

Yes, but the mask mandate has been repeatedly extended. In fact, the mask mandate on transportation recently had an expiry date of April 18, the same day of Mizelle’s decision.

However, last week the CDC decided to extend the mandate through May 3, citing the need for more time to assess the effect of rising cases of COVID-19 in the U.S.

What if I’m flying between Canada and the U.S.? Will passengers still be required to mask?

Yes, you and other passengers will still have to wear a mask. Canada’s COVID-19 rules dictate that air passengers have to wear masks when arriving to Canada by plane or leaving Canada by plane.

What about connecting flights?

If you find yourself on a domestic U.S. flight as part of a connection — meaning you’re travelling between two U.S. cities — you and other passengers will not be required to wear a mask.

Are any major U.S. airlines still mandating masks?

Not on domestic flights between U.S. cities.

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines have all confirmed that masks will be optional on their domestic flights, but still could be required on international flights, and at certain airports, according to Reuters.

Who wanted the mandates lifted?

Airlines, and some politicians wanted to see the mask mandates lifted on planes.

The trade group Airlines for America has been lobbying the federal government to drop the mandate, citing the fact that guidance for other indoor spaces, such as restaurants, in many places across the country do not require masks, despite having poorer ventilation than planes.

A union representing flight attendants in the U.S., the Transport Workers Union, said the mask mandates have “driven an unprecedented rise in assaults by unruly passengers against airline workers.”

The union cheered the introduction of new legislation this month that would create a list of banned airline passengers who had abused airline staff.

In Canada, the airline division president of the union CUPE said the change in the U.S. will make things even more difficult for Canadian flight attendants.

“After two years, our members know the difficulty of enforcing mask mandates all too well, and we believe this development could make that job even harder when American carriers have no mask mandate but Canadian carriers do,” said Wesley Lesosky in an email to the Star.

“There’s no question masking onboard aircraft significantly improves the health and safety of both the work environment for our members, but also for the passengers onboard.”