The mandate has been extended three times since it went into effect in February 2021. December 29, 2022. Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider in March that he is concerned about the "uneven set of policies" that makes "airlines and airports look like the bad guys.". As of March 16, Virgin Atlantic has changed its mask rules to be optional on flights from Heathrow and Manchester to the Caribbean. 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. "It makes no sense that people are still required to wear masks on airplanes, yet are allowed to congregate in crowded restaurants, schools, and at sporting events without masks, despite none of these venues having the protective air filtration system that aircraft do," executives from the US' largest carriers said in a March 23 letter to Biden. of Transportation most recent reporting of domestic originating passengers boarded 2)fulltime-equivalent active Employees 3) 1973-2019 annual profitability, Media Contacts: Visit the Southwest Newsroom atswamedia.comfor multimedia assets and other Company news. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. hide caption. html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > b:nth-child(6) { For nearly two years, most everyday activities, like dining out and grocery shopping, required masks, even for those that are fully vaccinated. Frontier Airlines: Effective immediately, passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks on Frontier flights. All rights reserved. "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. When I talk about technical debt, many people point to the Y2K scare, which seems to offer a perfect example. Icelandair has also updated its mask policy to be optional on some routes, including flights within Iceland, and to or from Europe and Greenland. Airlines have not come out with a public stance on whether the mandate should be extended. Norwegian Air Shuttle changed its covid-era mask policy on April 4, now allowing passengers to forgo face coverings on all of its flights. Source The Dallas Morning News (TNS) A Southwest Airlines flight attendant, wearing one mask, demonstrates the use of an oxygen mask at the outset of flight from . LinkedIn has officially entered its cringe era, and its working. The carrier says masks are still required on flights to and from Scotland, as well as overseas countries that still require them. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. clip: rect(0,0,0,0); More than 70% of Americans can take off their masks indoors under new CDC guidelines on COVID-19 risk. margin: -1px; left: 278px !important; British low-cost carrier Jet2 was the first airline in the UK to scrap mask requirements on planes, relaxing the rule on March 1. News 6 is Getting Results. } ", Frontier said that it was dropping the policy following the TSA's announcement, but reminded passengers that"individual airports and municipalities may still require masks so customers and team members should continue to abide by mask rules within any facility that may require it. Were applying stringent cleaning practices such as using electrostatic and anti-microbial spray treatments in the cabin, utilizing High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters onboard, and providing masks and cleaning wipes for anyone who requests them. A group of CEOs from all major U.S. airlines called on President Joe Biden to lift the federal mask mandate on public transportation. Even as Southwests chief executive at the time, Gary Kelly, objected to the pilots claims, saying Southwest had wonderful technology, he conceded that the companys tools could use improvement. } We are looking at a huge summer of travel and they dont want to deal with employees struggling and quitting after they struggled to build up staff all pandemic long., A month ago, a Louisiana man was taken off a Southwest flight at Orlando International Airport after he reportedly became irate over being forced to wear a mask, according to an arrest affidavit. Throughout the past year, the flight attendants union picketed in front of various airports as part of their contract negotiations. Navigate the calendar using PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN to change the month, you can also hold CONTROL and press the ARROW KEYS to change the day. .air-check-in-edit-contact-information-banner--link { Southwest Airlines:Effectively immediately, passengers and employees may choose whether they would like to wear a mask. The groups are also seeking an end to pre-departure COVID testing for fully vaccinated passengers on international flights to the U.S., and an end to broad"avoid travel"advisories to destinations outside the U.S. that have COVID case rates that areequal to or less than the case rates in America. Masks connected to tubing or battery-operated filters Currently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has mandated that masks be worn on all public transportation, including in. The Shameful Open Secret Behind Southwests Failure, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/31/opinion/southwest-airlines-computers.html. "Passengers and employees still have the option to wear masks in airports and on aircraft if they so choose.". Bottom line A photo illustration showing a planes tail on the screen of an old computer. Southwest Communications is sharing news with the world. The building might look and feel the same to its inhabitants as long as there was no earthquake or fire. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. If you had the option of not adhering to strict earthquake or fire codes i.e., if there was little or no regulation or oversight it would almost inevitably be cheaper and quicker to skip such niceties. Following the decision, American Airlines . font-weight: bold; /* Fare chart comparison flyby */ Even . A Louisiana man was taken off a Southwest flight at Orlando International Airport Thursday after he reportedly became irate over being forced to wear a mask, according to an arrest affidavit. text-decoration:underline; The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reshaped the global economy, along with the day-to-day lives of almost everyone on earth. Software shortcomings contributed to previous, smaller-scale meltdowns, and Southwest unions had repeatedly warned about the software. Additionally, 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. "We look forward to seeing your smiles on board & encourage kindness & respect for those who continue to mask," it said. Here are the US and European airlines that no longer require masks on aircraft. Southwest concedes that technology played a role in the fiasco but without acknowledging past decisions contributing to why this happened now. But despite the failure and the fine, he collected $18 million in pension money on his way out the door. Alaska Airlines: Masks are optional in U.S. airports and onboard aircraft, effective immediately. Use of the Southwest websites and our Company Information constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions. And unless we take steps to hold companies and executives accountable for preventable and foreseeable failures, it will be us, the public, who keep paying. /* Temp - GNAV Espanol Chase ad font-sizefix */ /* Air Booking Select - Fare benefit first th width */ If, after five days, your symptoms are improving and you remain fever free for at least 24 hours, you can end isolation and wear a mask for the next five days while in public places. AVOID TRAVEL: CDC warns US travelers to avoid nearly 60% of international destinations. The layered approach to safety and security includes masks. However, even with the shiniest hardware, the software that plays a critical role inside many systems is too often antiquated and, in some cases, decades old. She graduated from UCF and returned to Central Florida after working in Colorado. But that didnt happen, and some people may believe that the implication is that technical debt is not a big deal. New Arrival. Overseas airlines are having to cancel hundreds of flights as they grapple with coronavirus -related staffing shortages weeks after they ditched rules . "We will continue to closely monitor the situation in the event of changes.". Its also critical that we maintain passenger confidence in the safety of air travel.". An airline-by-airline look at facemask policies as of Tuesday, April 19. Southwest Airlines Southwest announced Monday it would be mask-optional going forward and welcomed those who decide to keep wearing masks. Sign up for notifications from Insider! Charlie Riedel/AP Based in Dallas and famous for an Employee-first corporate Culture, Southwest maintains an unprecedented record of no involuntary furloughs or layoffs in its history. No horrific parking, no security lines, no strict TSA policies, no crowds, no waiting around. Yes, all of our aircraft are equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which remove 99.97%* of airborne particlessimilar to technology found in hospitals. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. External site which may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. For additional information, we also invite you to contactAirlines for America, our trade association, for an industry perspective on this development. The flight was right on time and of course we enjoyed the . Willis Orlando, of the website Scotts Cheap Flights, said theres been an increase in unruly passengers due to the mask mandate. 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 . Like recent guidance regarding masks in other settings, the CDC says any revision will be based on the levels of COVID-19 at the community level, as well as on the risk of new variants, national data and the latest science. Masks must completely cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly with ties, ear loops, or elastic bands that go behind the head. (Europe has such a rule, though the implementation has hit a lot of snags.). ", He and other executivestestified without masks on, andKelly tested positive for the coronavirussoon after. Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Wednesday as the company faced frustration from passengers and scrutiny from federal officials over its handling of its schedule in the. Likewise, in October of 2021, when Southwest experienced another cancellation crisis, the president of the pilots union pointed out that the antiquated crew-scheduling technology was leading to cascading disruptions. } Southwest Airlines announced that because the TSA is no longer enforcing the policy, employees and passengers will similarly no longer be required to wear face. "Pleasenote face masks may still be required based on local ordinances, or when traveling to/from certain international locations based on country requirements," the airline said in a statement. Such breakdowns resulting from technical debt are often triggered by external events, like weather, and can be worsened by other dynamics, such as the fact that Southwest has more point-to-point flights than most airlines, which use a hub-and-spoke model, in which passengers are ferried to major hubs like Atlanta and Dallas from their origin and then put on different planes to their final destinations. Delta Air Lines:Effective immediately, masks are optional for passengers inside U.S. airports and onboard aircraft. In September, they put the same sign lamenting the companys outdated technology on the side of a truck and drove it in circles around Love Field (Southwests core airport) in Dallas, as well as the nearby Southwest headquarters. The vast majority of our employees, I think, are very happy that they now have a choice, he said. Learn more atSouthwest.com/citizenshipabout how Southwest Airlines leverages a unique legacy and mission to serve communities around the world. But the candidates currently in Baltimore might also be on hold for hours, trying to let the company know of their whereabouts. .compare-fares-secondary--row:nth-of-type(5) .compare-fares-secondary--header-cell .compare-fares-secondary--label-addendum::after { A court ruling this week ended the federal mandate requiring people to wear masks on planes and other public transportation. While a lot of people embraced the new norm, many did not take it in stride, leading to a stark uptick in unruly passenger cases, particularly in the US. Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. Here's how crew, passengers found out masks weren't required, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > span.swa-icon.swa-icon_small.swa-icon_external-link-box { Its a bit like constructing a building. Cases have been rising, but hospitalizations have remained relatively low. We appreciate the cooperation and compliance efforts of our Customers and Employees as policies have evolved. "We encourage individuals to make the best. Do I need to wear a mask on the plane and or in the airport? But thats yet another layer of software that has to be written and integrated into whatever software the airline uses for scheduling personnel. overflow: hidden; He added that high-profile altercations that took place on airplanes because of the masking requirements would mostly disappear following the end of the companys mask requirement. American also dropped the rule on Monday, saying passengers and staff will no longer be required to wear masks at the airline's airport or on domestic flights. Gary Kelly, the recently retired CEO of Southwest Airlines, testified to congress that masks do little to help on airplanes given how safe airplanes are in the first place. Airplanes and airports are among the few remaining places where face masks are required, but they might not be after Sept. 13 if the rule . At present, Japan Airlines doesn't require passengers to wear a face mask, but it strongly recommends passengers do so and warns that going barefaced . } A sign reads "Wear A Mask" at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. Scandinavian Airlines, also known as SAS, removed the mask mandate for flights in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway in October, but has expanded that to all flights except to and from the US, China, and Italy as of April 4. Despite the relaxed policies, many countries, like France and Germany, still require face coverings to be worn on public transportation, including on aircraft and in airports, according to data provider World Population Reviews. Make sure to check any airport youre traveling to before arriving to know their policies. Your airline may have dropped its COVID-19 mask requirement after a federal judge voided the national mask mandate. 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. "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. Major airlines and airports are rushing to drop their mask requirements following a federal court ruling that struck down the federal government's . Shortly after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, mask-wearing became the new reality for most people across the globe. We encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing and to check local airport mask policies when traveling. Passengers who refuse to wear masks face fines and other consequences. "With declining hospitalization rates, increased immunity, widely available vaccines and cutting-edge treatments on the horizon, America is reaching an inflection point where endemic-focused policies can replace pandemic-driven restrictions," said the letter, which was signed by Airlines for America, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Travel Association. "We understand some guests may want to continue wearing face coverings on flights, and that's perfectly fine under our optional policy," the airline said in a statement, USA Today reported. Update: On April 18, 2022, a federal judge struck down the federal mask mandate. Test at least five days after exposure and if result is positive, go into isolation for five days. Southwest Airlines Flight 3472 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight operating from New Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Louisiana to Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida.On August 27, 2016, the Boeing 737-7H4, with 99 passengers and five crew, 12 minutes after departure from New Orleans, was climbing through 31,000 feet and heading east over the Gulf of Mexico . .header-flyout-links .header-flyout-links--item .swa-icon_search { padding-left: 1px; } It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. an estimated net worth in the tens of millions of dollars. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and airline rules give pilots the latitude to remove face masks if. } .facebook-share-button-command--button { While no longer required, customers and crewmembers are welcome to continue wearing masks in our terminals and on board our aircraft." Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines both directed. } The union issued a letter Thursday to federal officials and the White House. on many plane tickets. color: #636363; It will eventually be paid by someone. An EasyJet spokesperson told CBS that "higher than usual staff sickness levels" contributed to the increase in cancellations. html[lang="es"] div.footer div.flex-placement > b:nth-child(7) { A Southwest Airlines flight attendant, wearing one mask, demonstrates the use of an oxygen mask at the outset of flight from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas in June 2021. width: 348px; Media Relations Team: 214-792-4847, option 1. The US requirements for masks on airlines have ended, and several international airlines, particularly in Europe, have recently eliminated mandatory masking on flights, as well. padding-top: 5px; } 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 . Police said 43-year-old Chad Breaux, of River Ridge was arrested after he was accused of causing a commotion on the flight, yelling and screaming at passengers, saying, If you are a man, you wouldnt be wearing masks., The letter comes a day after a group of airline leaders sent a letter to President Joe Biden, asking for an end to the federal mask mandate. 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. Additionally, 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.