More airlines mandate face masks on flights
As pressure ramps up to make passengers wear face masks in flight, more US airlines are making it a requirement.
American Airlines, United, Delta and Frontier Airlines are mandating mask use, joining JetBlue, which became the first airline to make it compulsory.
The airlines will require their passengers to wear masks or face coverings at the airport and on flights starting on different dates throughout early May.
Airline unions and lawmakers have been pressuring airlines for days to make wearing face coverings compulsory, and want the government to make it an official rule for the entire industry.
"Absent federal action, we need every airline to require passengers wear face coverings to keep everyone safe in aviation," said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants.
Along with social distancing measures, such as blocking the middle seat, JetBlue president Joanna Geraghty calls it ‘the new flying etiquette.’
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said the airline initially waited to see how the policy was working at JetBlue.
Parker had expressed reluctance about making it a mandatory requirement.
"We want to be careful about putting our team in the position of being police on that," Parker told the AP.
The face covering rules come into force for Delta and United starting May 4, at Frontier Airlines on May 8 and at American Airlines beginning May 11.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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