Federal judge voids US mask mandate for public transportation

 

Updated: April 19, 2022

On Monday, April 18, a federal judge struck down the federal requirement that travelers wear masks on public transportation, including aboard commercial aircraft and in airports. The US Transportation Security Administration has said it will not enforce the mask mandate on public transportation and in transportation hubs, effective immediately.

As a result of the ruling, many US airline carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Southwest, also announced that they would no longer require passengers or crew to wear masks onboard domestic flights. Major air carriers have also dropped mask mandates on international flights where local regulations don’t require passengers to wear them. However, masks may still be required on international carriers or to fly to some international locations, depending on regulations at the arrival destination.

Other transportation providers have also made masks optional, including Amtrak and rideshare providers Lyft and Uber. Many US airports have also removed masking requirements.

Individual airports, transport hubs, and city transit systems may still require masks, so travelers should stay aware of any local requirements and abide by mask rules on any public transportation or transport hubs that may require masking. International travelers should also be aware that masks may be required onboard international flights.

Federal agencies are reviewing the decision and assessing potential next steps, but the Transportation Security Administration will not enforce the mask mandate on public transportation and transportation hubs at this time. The CDC continues to recommend that travelers continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.

The team at Corporate Travel Management (CTM) will continue to monitor this ongoing situation closely for our clients and travelers. For the most up-to-date information from CTM, visit our COVID-19 Know the Facts page, which provides government and health advisory information, airline information, and day-by-day updates.