United, Delta, American, Other U.S. Airlines Quick to Drop Mask Mandates After Judge’s Ruling


Skift Take

A Florida federal judge and Trump appointee has liberated the U.S. airlines from the tyranny of having to enforce mask mandates. The five largest U.S. airlines didn't wait long, dropping their mask requirements within hours of the judge's ruling.

Within hours of hours a federal judge in Florida ruling the U.S. government's mask mandate requirement for airplanes, trains and other transit to be unlawful, the five largest U.S. airlines — Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines — dropped their mask mandates on Monday night.

"Effective immediately, masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country’s mask requirements) or at U.S. airports," United said in a statement Monday. "While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear a mask – and no longer have to enforce a mask requirement for most of the flying public – they will be able to wear masks if they choose to do so, as the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit."

The CEOs of American, Southwest, and United testified befo