Update: Airports, airlines and Uber lifting mask restrictions for travelers, employees
A Florida judge’s ruling on mask guidance left airport and airline administrators scrambling to communicate the unexpected changes this week.
Many airports in Washington state were left waiting for guidance Monday night about when and how they should wind down enforcement of mask mandates.
While some continued to enforce mask rules for the time being, several airlines were already starting to lift the requirement.
Alaska Airlines, which operates Horizon, announced shortly after the ruling that masks would now be optional in-flight.
Delta Airlines made a similar announcement later in the day.
The decision was made Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, an appointee of former President Donald Trump.
In the ruling, she said U.S. health officials exceeded their authority in their response to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an Associated Press report.
The CDC mandate applied to airplanes, trains, buses, city subways, ferries and ride-sharing vehicles.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport posted an announcement late Monday afternoon that masks are optional inside their facilities and that passengers should check with their airline and destination for other rules.
Tri-Cities Airport Director Buck Taft said Monday night the airport would continue to enforce mask rules until they receive updated guidance from the TSA.
But by Tuesday morning the Tri-Cities Airport had received updated guidance and announced they would no longer be enforcing the wearing of masks for passengers or employees.
The airport’s two major airlines are Horizon and Delta, which had already made announcements ahead of the TSA’s response to the ruling.
“While we are glad this means many of us get to see your smiling faces, we understand some might have mixed feelings,” the statement from Alaska Airlines said. “Please remember to be kind to one another and that wearing a mask while traveling is still an option.”
In their news release, Delta asked passengers to be considerate of others and be patient as many passengers and workers might not have received the news or updated guidance.
According to a Tuesday morning AP report, the situation created confusion for travelers across the country.
Passengers on a United Airlines flight from Houston to Kennedy Airport, for instance, could ditch their masks at their departing airport and on the plane but have to put them back on once they land in New York or take a subway.
Ben Franklin Transit in Tri-Cities announced Tuesday morning on Facebook that they had lift masking requirements, but said they will still provide free masks for riders who prefer to wear one.
“As of April 19, face masks are no longer required to ride,” the announcement said. “We look forward to seeing your smiling faces!”
As of 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning ride-share service Uber had dropped mask requirements, but Lyft had not yet made an announcement.
The White House said the court ruling means that for now the mask order “is not in effect at this time.”
The Justice Department declined to comment to The Associated Press when asked if it would seek an emergency stay to block the judge’s order.
This story was originally published April 18, 2022 at 5:42 PM.
