(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) A Trump-appointed federal judge voided President Joe Biden’s air travel mask mandate on Monday, and the major airlines announced that they will no longer requires masks on their airplanes.
Florida District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “exceeded” its “statutory authority,” “improperly invoked the good cause exception to notice and comment rulemaking, and failed to adequately explain its decisions.”
She called the mask mandate “unlawful.” Airlines would be left to decide whether to continue punishing employees and customers with masking rules.
Southwest Airlines said that “Employees and Customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask.” The company argued the maskless air travel is safe.
“Southwest will continue supporting the comfort of those who travel with us by offering additional layers of protection, including sophisticated cabin air ventilation systems onboard our aircraft which incorporate HEPA air filtration that removes at least 99.97% of airborne particles,” the company said in a press release.
Delta Air Lines said masks will be “optional” for employees and customers.
“Wearing a well-fitting mask protects the wearer, even if others around them are not wearing masks,” the company said in a press release.
When pilots announced the court ruling, passengers flung off their masks and cheered.
Passengers on a Delta Airlines flight cheer after the end of the federal mask mandate is announced.pic.twitter.com/DflsPxkWqP
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 19, 2022
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. This is the most important announcement I’ve ever made. The federal mask mandate is over. Take off your mask if you choose!”
A wonderful moment mid flight on @alaskaair today! pic.twitter.com/nWSatDRB83
— Ben Dietderich (@ben_dietd) April 18, 2022
A Delta flight attendant breaks into tears as she takes off her mask for the first time in two years.
What COVID law has done to people is terrible.pic.twitter.com/HcLALvzMzv
— Aaron Ginn (@aginnt) April 19, 2022
American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and Frontier Airlines all announced that masks will be “optional.”
“While we are glad this means many of us get to see your smiling faces, we understand some might have mixed feelings,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement.
“Please remember to be kind to one another and that wearing a mask while traveling is still an option.”
