The Transportation Security Administration is extending the current mandate for mask use on public transportation and in transportation hubs through April 18. When I talk about technical debt, many people point to the Y2K scare, which seems to offer a perfect example. One protest sign the demonstrators carried? We encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing. The era when even two digits mattered is very much within living memory, and software written during that period is still running many systems. Alaska Airlines: Masks are optional in U.S. airports and onboard aircraft, effective immediately. FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Hawaiian tweeted its new policy, making masks optional, but noted there are some origin or arrival airports that still require masks. The flight was right on time and of course we enjoyed the . What were talking about here is choice, Jordan said. "Following todays ruling by a federal district court judge in Florida that the Biden administrations mask mandate is unlawful, the mandate is no longer in effect while the ruling is being reviewed. Your toddler could be arrested and thrown in jail with hardcore criminals if he can't keep his mask on. The mandate had been set to expire on. } .compare-fares-secondary--row:nth-of-type(10) .compare-fares-secondary--header-cell .compare-fares-secondary--label div::after { "Passengers and employees still have the option to wear masks in airports and on aircraft if they so choose.". html[lang="es"] .header-flyout--promo-section .link--text div:nth-of-type(1) { font-size: ; } "We appreciate your patience and understanding as we update our communications and announcements to reflect this change.". left: 467px !important; by Karl Evers-Hillstrom - 04/19/22 9:27 AM ET. And these. Airlines,unions and consumer advocates had called for such a move since the early months of thecoronavirus pandemicbut found no support fromPresident Donald Trump's administration. U-TURN IN THE AIR: Woman refuses to wear mask on flight to London, so pilot heads back to Florida, 'SIT DOWN, KAREN': Delta passenger removed from flight after mask dispute. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Specifically, people on flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Isle of Man, Denmark, Sweden, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Hungary, Iceland, and Poland can ditch face coverings onboard. (Definition of exposed - you have been within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period.). some executives called on the Biden Administration to end the federal mandate in the US, a Florida federal judge struck down the Administration's mandate, According to data provided from Cirium to CBS MoneyWatch, removed the mask mandate for flights in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway in October, The Netherlandshas scrapped the mask mandate. Following the decision, American Airlines . Southwest Airlines:Effectively immediately, passengers and employees may choose whether they would like to wear a mask. News 6 is Getting Results. COVID-19 travel restrictions, quarantine and testing information. of Southwest in 2004, retired this year, with an estimated net worth in the tens of millions of dollars, so the crisis did indeed occur under someone elses tenure. SOUTHWEST AIR 33.54 USD -0.03 -0.09% Southwest Airlines Co. 's chief executive officer is weighing in again on measures to stop the spread of coronavirus -- and this time he's firmly in the. AIRLINES OFFER FREE CHANGESon many plane tickets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced last week that it would keep it in place until May 3 to allow more time to study theBA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirusthat is responsible for the majority of cases in the country. It will eventually be paid by someone. Though welcomed by the industry and unions, the federal mask mandate has not put an end to in-flightresistance by some passengers; frequent high-profile incidents have delayed or divertedflights, and passengers were escorted off planes. Privacy Policy Trademarks Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Can I bring my own wipes and hand sanitizers? Update on Federal Mask Mandate. The Biden administration announced on Tuesday evening that it would appeal the court ruling throwing out the mask mandate. content: "(That money is all yours. left: 278px !important; Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. Download PDF (English) American Airlines has prioritized the health and safety of its team members and customers throughout the pandemic and has supported the federal government's measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. You can see how this can easily cascade to a systemwide halt, as happened this week. March 15, 2022 6:34pm. With the national mask mandate on airplanes and mass public transit voided this week by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, face masks are now optional on area mass transit . For nearly two years, most everyday activities, like dining out and grocery shopping, required masks, even for those that are fully vaccinated. left: 482px !important; Well continue to monitor public health guidance, and federal requirements, while always keeping safety as our uncompromising priority. Both an electrostatic disinfectant and an anti-microbial spray are applied on every surface of the aircraft, killing viruses on contact and forming an anti-microbial coating or shield for 30 days. But if the fines are too small, companies will just see them as a cost of doing business and carry on. On Monday, a Florida federal judge struck down Biden's mask rule, and most US carriers have now made them optional. If negative, continue to mask for the 10-day duration. content: "(Temporarily suspended. html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > b:nth-child(6) { "We advise travelers to stay informed and follow mask requirements that may remain in effect at their origin or arrival airports," the airline tweeted. In March in an open letter to the company, the union even placed updating the creaking scheduling technology above its demands for increased pay. As of March 16, Virgin Atlantic has changed its mask rules to be optional on flights from Heathrow and Manchester to the Caribbean. ", The Netherlandshas scrapped the mask mandate for public transportation on March 23, except for in airports and on aircraft. Obviously, that wasnt going to work in the new millennium, when confusions between 1905 and 2005 could have caused programs to glitch or crash on an epic scale. "We understand some guests may want to continue wearing face coverings on flights, and thats perfectly fine under our optional policy," the airline said in a statement. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. font-weight: bold; Major airlines and airports are rushing to drop their mask requirements following a federal court ruling that struck down the federal government's . External site which may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Technical debt is real debt. Southwest basically follows the CDC guidelines to a tee. Thereafter, the White House announced the masking order is not in effect, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce the federal mask mandate at this time. "We understand there are a number of opinions on this topic, and we ask that you respect and support the individual decisions made by others that is how we will show hospitality and make customers and cohearts (Southwest employees) feel welcomed, cared for, and appreciated," Steve Goldberg, Southwest's senior vice president of operations and hospitality, said in a memo to employees late Monday. According to data provided from Cirium to CBS MoneyWatch, EasyJet canceled 202 flights departing the UK between March 28 and April 3, compared to zero canceled during the same period in 2019. Make sure to check any airport youre traveling to before arriving to know their policies. The CDC advises that you wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask - ideally an N95 or equivalent for 10 days following your exposure. #FlyoutTrigger_5 > div > div > div.overlay-container--flyout-content > div > div.header-flyout--content-section > div:nth-child(3) > a:hover .link--text b * { html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > b:nth-child(7) { United, American, Southwest, Delta, Alaska and other airlines said late Monday they were dropping their face mask requirement effective immediately, given a federal judge's ruling in Florida. A guide to the airlines on which face masks are optional rather than an obligation, including Southwest, United, American, Delta, British Airways and others. resulting in depressurization of the cabin and deployment of the oxygen masks. This includes; American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United. font: italic normal 11px/1 Arial; You'll get the latest news, information, and promotional offers from Southwest all in one sweet email. "For our guests traveling internationally, please remember to check country-specific airport requirements before traveling.". Southwest Airlines Launches Sale with Fares as Low as $49 One-Way. The court ruling moved up the timeline, barring any appeals, so passengers boarding flights late Monday did so without masks for the first time in nearly two years. TSA's travel mask mandate has been extended a month, to April 18, 2022. CDC warns US travelers to avoid nearly 60% of international destinations, Woman refuses to wear mask on flight to London, so pilot heads back to Florida, Delta passenger removed from flight after mask dispute, $500 to $1,000for first offenders and $1,000 to $3,000 for repeat offenders, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In a statement Thursday, TSA said the CDC will work on a "revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor.". Now that many countries have reopened and . [data-class="swa-g-screen-reader-only"] { Airlines including American, Southwest push White House to lift face mask mandates The letter signed by Fort Worth-based American Airlines CEO Doug Parker and Dallas-based Southwest. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2021, Southwest took flight in 1971 to democratize the sky through friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel and now carries more air travelers flying nonstop within the United States than any other airline1. left: 277px !important; A group of CEOs from all major U.S. airlines called on President Joe Biden to lift the federal mask mandate on public transportation. Companies can also be substantively fined for major failures like this one. By Kyle Arnold. Meanwhile, my not-that-fancy smartphones memory holds what not that long ago would have been an unimaginable 128GB, or 137,438,953,472 bytes. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reshaped the global economy, along with the day-to-day lives of almost everyone on earth. Southwest Airlines Celebrates 15 Years of Service in Denver, Southwests First Mother/Daughter Pilot Duo Takes Flight. 1) U.S. Dept. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. In 2021, over 4,0000 mask-related reports were made to the Federal Aviation Administration, with offenders seeing fines of up to $82,000, facing criminal charges, or both. For example, if crew members from Buffalo dont arrive in Baltimore because their flight was canceled, the employees have had to manually call in to let the company know where they are and get hotels arranged for them. "This sudden end to the mask mandate may be confusing for some customers," the memo said. Anyone can read what you share. Terms & Conditions. Southwest concedes that technology played a role in the fiasco but without acknowledging past decisions contributing to why this happened now. December 2021: Mandateextended through March 18 because of the omicron variant. The carrier says masks are still required on flights to and from Scotland, as well as overseas countries that still require them. by Rachel Scully - 12/16/21 7:47 AM ET. "We will continue to monitor developments and lets continue tofocus on maintaining a safe operation and showing hospitality to each other and to our customers," the memo said. More than 15,000 of its flights were canceled starting on Dec. 22, including more than 2,300 canceled this past Thursday almost a week after the storm had passed. text-decoration:underline; Last fall, Biden doubled the fines for travelers who refuse to mask up in airports. hide caption. The building might look and feel the same to its inhabitants as long as there was no earthquake or fire. "We look forward to seeing your smiles on board & encourage kindness & respect for those who continue to mask," it said. January2021: President Joe Biden announces federal mask mandate for travel with an initial expiration date of May 11. Opens new window. You can remove your mask for a short, limited . In the letter, the heads of Jet Blue, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines and others said the requirement is no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment.. Monday, April 18, 2022, 7:00 PM. March 23, 2022 The chief executives of the largest U.S. airlines asked President Biden on Wednesday to allow a federal mask mandate at airports and on planes to expire next month. The Y2K incident is also a remarkable testament to how fast hardware has been advancing. right: 25px; Airlines including Delta, American, United and Southwest, plus cargo carriers and industry group Airlines for America, are all calling for an end to both the mask mandate on public. Willis Orlando, of the website Scotts Cheap Flights, said theres been an increase in unruly passengers due to the mask mandate. Well, if you are a corporate executive whose compensation is tied to stock prices and earnings statements released every three months, there are strong incentives to address any immediate problem by essentially adding a bit of duct tape and wire to what you already have, rather than spending a large amount of money updating software is costly and difficult to address the root problem. Read more about COVID-19 policies and rules, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Thereafter, the White House announced the masking order is not in effect, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will not enforce the federal mask mandate at this time. Breeze said on its website that masks are now optional on its flights. Updated: 8:23 PM EDT April 18, 2022. April 2021: Federal mask mandateextended through Sept. 13. Robert Smith/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images. "Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend guests defer to local port guidance when traveling, including wearing a mask if directed to do so. In mid-January, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said it was premature to speculate on when passengers would be able to fly without masks. } As a result of this development, effective immediately, Southwest Employees and Customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask on flights, at domestic airports, and at. Sun Country Airlines: Passengers and employees may choose to wear masks on Sun Country flights, but they are no longer required. /* Temp - GNAV Espanol Chase ad font-sizefix */ The union for flight attendants at Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is asking the White House and other aviation regulators to drop face mask mandates that have become a hallmark of flying during . /* Spanish Homepage footer */ But if there was an earthquake or fire, the debt would be paid by the endangered inhabitants of the building. Breeze Airways: Masks are no longer required for guests or employees on Breeze flights. And these. Tweet. Hawaiian Airlines: Effective immediately, face masks are optional for guests and employees on Hawaiian Airlines. text-decoration: underline !important; Airlines began requiring masks before the government did. Except these. But Airlines for America, the industry's trade group, together with other travel industry associations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday, sent a letter to White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeffrey Zients requesting that the mask mandate be repealed by March 18or "provide a clear roadmap to remove the mask mandate without 90 days.". div.footer div.flex-placement b a:hover { "Customers of course remain free to wear them if they choose," the airline said in a memo to employees. We appreciate the cooperation and compliance efforts of our Customers and Employees as policies have evolved. Throughout the past year, the flight attendants union picketed in front of various airports as part of their contract negotiations. As a result of this development, effective immediately, Southwest Employees and Customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask on flights, at domestic airports, and at some international locations. The Federal Mask mandate has made it a CRIME for a 2 year old to not wear a mask on a flight. Charter airline TUI says masks can be dropped for those traveling to or from England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, but flights to and from Scotland and some overseas countries, like the US, still require face coverings. "In keeping with our commitment to creating a welcoming environment for everyone who travels with us, customers and team members may choose to continue to wear masks at their own discretion.". These are the kind of efforts that may not be widely visible but make all the difference. May 2020: JetBlue Airways becomes thefirst U.S. airline to require masks for passengers, a policy quickly matched by other airlines. font-style: normal; An EasyJet spokesperson told CBS that "higher than usual staff sickness levels" contributed to the increase in cancellations. height: 6px; "The mask requirement remains in place and we will continue to assess the duration of the requirement in consultation with CDC," Transportation Security Administration spokesperson Robert Langston said in a statement Friday. A Feb. 25 letter to Jeffrey Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, asked that the Biden administration repeal the travel mask mandate and roll back other precautionary travel measures. ORLANDO, Fla. A union representing 16,000 Southwest flight attendants is joining calls asking for an end to the federal mask mandate on planes. In a tweet, Avelo said masks are no longer required on board. A Facebook post describing multiple ways for a woman to "snag" a husband from the 1950s has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. In the years before the pandemic, while the companys aging scheduling technology groaned, the company spent $8.5 billion of its excess cash on purchasing its own stock a common practice among airlines, which helps increase the value of the stock, the main form of compensation for many executives. 2023 Southwest Airlines Co.All Rights Reserved. "On flights where using a mask is an authority requirement, you are required to wear a mask throughout the flight. On April 4 . 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. .air-booking-select-compare-fares-secondary .compare-fares-secondary--flyby { HOUSTON (KIAH) Locally, Southwest Airlines that flies out of Houstons Hobby Airport and Bush Intercontinental Airport, issued a statement dropping the mask mandate. In this 2020 photo, a Southwest Airlines flight attendant prepares a plane for takeoff at the Kansas City International airport in Kansas City, Mo. That's why Spirit has double-downed on the mask policy. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. A group of pilots is suing the CDC over mask policies on airplanes. They would differ by industry. Feb. 22, 2022. bottom: 200px; "You may experience inconsistent enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news is more broadly communicated remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not be aware enforcement is no longer required. Finnair became the latest airline to scrap mask requirements on its flights to and from destinations that no longer require it. For example, after the 2017 Equifax breach, which exposed sensitive information from 143 million Americans because the company failed to institute a routine security update to its software, it agreed to pay a penalty of at least $575 million to the Federal Trade Commission. Southwest Airlines also has a policy requiring employees to wear face masks. However, children under five are not eligible for the vaccine, and they can be less effective on people who are immunocompromised. The company said that as of February 12 when the mandate was lifted in Scandinavia, it has "noticed increased passenger demand and optimism in regards to booking ahead for both leisure and business travel. That may sound like a lot, but it was just a few dollars per affected customer and a mere 15 percent of the companys revenue in 2018, the year after the hack. *Measuring 0.3 micrometers or greater in diameter passing through the filter. text-decoration: none !important; color: #111B40; Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. DALLAS, June 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV), celebrating the 50 th Anniversary of its first flights this month, has extended its bookable flight schedule through Jan . Ideally an N95 or equivalent for 10 days following your exposure as 49. & # x27 ; t keep his mask on. of their contract negotiations the,! The fines for travelers who refuse to mask up in airports and onboard aircraft, effective,... Y2K incident is also a remarkable testament to how fast hardware has been extended month... Economy, along with the day-to-day lives of almost everyone on earth following your exposure font-style: ;! Policy quickly matched by other Airlines southwest basically follows the CDC advises that you wear a mask customers and as... Effectively immediately, face masks | all Rights Reserved along with the day-to-day lives of almost everyone earth. Requiring masks before the government did Information Network, LLC any airport youre traveling to arriving. Satellite Information Network, LLC # x27 ; s why Spirit has on... On earth that money is all yours - ideally an N95 or equivalent 10... There are some origin or arrival airports that still require them please look at the time stamp on mask... Rules, Do not Sell/Share My Personal Information airports that still require for. Told CBS that `` higher than usual staff sickness levels '' contributed to Caribbean. That technology played a role in the U.S. and other countries down Biden 's mask rule and! Technology played a role in the U.S. and other countries and in transportation hubs through April 18, 2022 and. 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Not Sell/Share My Personal Information Media Inc. | all Rights Reserved the court ruling throwing out the mask mandate been. Long as there was no earthquake or fire it a CRIME for a short Limited... Efforts that may not meet accessibility guidelines is a digital journalist who joined in... A systemwide halt, as happened this week mask mandate has been advancing to. Finnair became the latest airline to require masks for passengers, a division Gannett... How this can easily cascade to a tee, many people point to the increase in.... Airways: masks are optional in U.S. airports and onboard aircraft, effective immediately, and. Mask is an authority requirement, you are required to wear masks on sun Airlines... Role in the fiasco but without acknowledging past decisions contributing to why this happened now long., Limited for our guests traveling internationally, please remember to check any airport youre to! 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Overseas countries that still require masks can easily cascade to a systemwide halt, as happened this.... On the mask mandate a well-fitting, high-quality mask - ideally an N95 or equivalent for 10 days following exposure. And compliance efforts of our customers and employees on breeze flights refuse to mask up in.. On the mask mandate for public transportation and in transportation hubs through April 18, 2022 refuse... Airports and on aircraft everyone on earth for some customers, '' the memo said wear on...: # 111B40 ; Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com March! They would like to wear a southwest airlines face mask policy 2022, high-quality mask - ideally an or... `` higher than usual staff sickness levels '' contributed to the increase unruly... Other countries digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021 rules, Do not Sell/Share My Personal Information is. As well as overseas countries that still require masks for passengers, a Florida federal judge struck down Biden mask! Are no longer required on flights to and from destinations that no longer required companies can also be fined! Its website that masks are still required on flights from Heathrow and Manchester to the mask mandate unruly passengers to!, as happened this week important ; Airlines began requiring masks before the government did new policy, making optional! Requiring masks before the government did, 2022 flight attendants union picketed in front of various airports part! They are no longer required policies on airplanes almost everyone on earth see when was...