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US airlines call an end to facemask mandate.
The CEOs of America’s largest airlines are asking the Biden administration to drop the federal mask mandate on airplanes, along with the pre-departure testing requirement for international travellers.
Airlines for America, which represents American, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue and other carriers, released a letter Wednesday addressed to President Biden, saying “the persistent and steady decline of hospitalization and death rates are the most compelling indicator that our country is well protected against disease from COVID-19.”
“Now is the time for the administration to sunset federal transportation travel restrictions, including the international predeparture testing requirement and federal mask mandates.
“We are requesting this action not only for the benefit of the traveling public, but also for the thousands of airline employees charged with enforcing a patchwork of now-outdated regulations implemented in response to COVID-19,” the letter said.
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The letter represents the first time that the industry has publicly united against the mask mandate, which was recently extended until mid-April.
The Transportation Security Administration announced last month that it was extending the mask mandate on public transportation until April 18.
According to reports, the Biden administration is worried with figures coming from Europe as several countries have recently seen an exponential growth in Covid-19 infections.
The surge in cases, particularly in the United Kingdom, is prompting urgent conversations among senior Biden health aides about the potential of the US experiencing another wave this spring.
“You’ve got to at least be prepared that we may see something similar here with some differences, because there’s always differences,” said Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical officer.
“We’ve got to not ignore it. We’ve got to monitor it very carefully.”
The White House declined to comment on the Airlines for America letter, but earlier this month said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was working to help develop “a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor.”
