the airline tweeted. This failing appears to be a key factor in why Southwest Airlines couldn't return to business as usual the way other airlines did after last week's major winter storm. } With this mandate in place, there has been a rise in onboard incidents that have harmed flight attendants, delayed or . "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. Montgomery told me that employees had sent in screenshots that showed their being left on hold on the phone for three, six, seven, eight and 12 hours and even one of 17 hours just to let the company know their whereabouts and get hotel rooms arranged. Because of the mandate, airlines have had to comply with and enforce mask rules. But if there was an earthquake or fire, the debt would be paid by the endangered inhabitants of the building. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Tweet. Among its recommendations, the travel organizations asked that the White House collaborate internationally to "normalize" travel conditions and entry requirements. 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. Its also critical that we maintain passenger confidence in the safety of air travel.". on many plane tickets. } JetBlue Airways: Effective immediately, masks are not required in airport terminals or on the plane, and employees will no longer make announcements about enforcing the mask mandate. Privacy Policy Trademarks Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Copyright 2023 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and airline rules give pilots the latitude to remove face masks if. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Indicates external site which may or may not meet accessibility guidelines, 2023 April 18, 2022 After a federal judge struck down a nationwide mask requirement for airplanes, trains, buses and other public transportation on Monday, the country's largest airlines said they. "Our youngest passengers do not yet have access to the vaccine. 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 . But despite the failure and the fine, he collected $18 million in pension money on his way out the door. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices ", The Netherlandshas scrapped the mask mandate for public transportation on March 23, except for in airports and on aircraft. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The travel extension comes two weeks after the CDC relaxed its mask guidance for communities where hospitals aren't under high strain, and as states around the country and across the political spectrum have relaxed a number of precautionary measures, including on indoor mask usage. Please test for COVID-19 if you are symptomatic. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Opens new window. 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 . Then you can cross your fingers and hope that whatever catastrophe may be in the making, it erupts under someone elses future tenure. Initially, it seemed as if airlines would wait to find out how The Biden Administration and CDC would respond to the court ruling, but that went out the door fast. The mandate had been set to expire on March 18. I think its a great thing, Jordan told Fortune on Tuesday. #call_to_action_qdnph80bc1i, #call_to_action_oxew9f4k2gj{color:#ffffff;} Shortly after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, mask-wearing became the new reality for most people across the globe. That remarkable progress in hardware shouldnt obscure the critically important fact that software doesnt just come along by itself. In the letter, the heads of JetBlue, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines and others said the requirement is no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment.. By Kyle Arnold. 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. Robert Smith/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images. We will begin removing these notices, and will also need be prepared to reinstate them if necessary.". Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. 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. This includes; American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United. As of April 13, 65.8% of the total U.S. population has been fully vaccinated. Without more government regulation and oversight and greater accountability, we may see more fiascos like this one, which most likely stranded hundreds of thousands of Southwest passengers perhaps more than a million over Christmas week. With the mandate now expired, several US airlines are joining a handful of European carriers by dropping the rule on aircraft. ", He and other executivestestified without masks on, andKelly tested positive for the coronavirussoon after. left: 277px !important; The mandate had been set to expire on. )"; While aging code is a common cause of technical debt in older companies such as with airlines, which started automating early it can also be found in newer systems, because software can be written in a rapid and shoddy way, rather than in a more resilient manner that makes it more dependable and easier to fix or expand. right: 25px; } The controversial face mask mandate. We encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing. Stay up to date with what you want to know. A number of major airlines including American, United, Southwest, Delta and Alaska quickly announced that masks would now be optional for customers and employees domestically and on. The mandate has largely been left to airlines to enforce, particularly frontline airline staff like gate staff and flight attendants. When I talk about technical debt, many people point to the Y2K scare, which seems to offer a perfect example. Download Share Save. Test at least five days after exposure and if result is positive, go into isolation for five days. Customers at the check-in area for Southwest Airlines at Denver International Airport on Thursday. In its . } } Specifically, face coverings can be removed on flights to or from Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, The Bahamas, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago. "But it will be relatively short-term because airlines will adjust their capacity to manage demand and protect their network integrity.". } However, masks may still be required on routes to certain destinations. left: 277px !important; Terms & Conditions. However, the carrier said the policy is dropped for "some international locations. Cathay Pacific has told passengers who are nervous or uncomfortable around seatmates who choose not to wear a face mask on one of the airline's flights to postpone their travel plans after Hong Kong lifted its years-long mask mandate. 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. 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. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reshaped the global economy, along with the day-to-day lives of almost everyone on earth. content: "(That money is all yours. It accepts gaiters, as long as they have at. Hawaiian tweeted its new policy, making masks optional, but noted there are some origin or arrival airports that still require masks. Alaska Airlines "Due to a judicial decision in our federal court system, the mask mandate has been overturned, which means our guests and employees have the option to wear a mask while traveling . Our systems were overwhelmed by the scale of the disruption, Chris Perry, a Southwest spokesman, told me. Frontier Airlines: Effective immediately, passengers and employees are no longer required to wear masks on Frontier flights. Use of the Southwest websites and our Company Information constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions. The mandate is currently set to end on April 18. 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. ABOARD ONE OF THE LAST MASKED FLIGHTS:Here's how crew, passengers found out masks weren't required. 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 . The CDC advises that you wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask - ideally an N95 or equivalent for 10 days following your exposure. 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. This is why we cant just keep leaving the operation of more and more of our infrastructure and our lives to antiquated software and self-interested executives. Themask mandate, announced in January 2021, had beenset to expireMonday. In a tweet, Avelo said masks are no longer required on board. Similar to BA, London-based EasyJet has ended the mask requirement on flights where the origin and destination do not require them. ", JetBlue tweeted on Monday that masks are no longer required on board, but said "while no longer required, customers and crewmembers may continue wearing masks in our terminals and onboard our aircraft. } On its website, KLM noted that some destinations have different mask requirements and the airline will send passengers an email "in the week before departure" with mask policy details for their destination. 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. However, on Monday, a Florida federal judge struck down the Administration's mandate. This failing appears to be a key factor in why Southwest Airlines couldnt return to business as usual the way other airlines did after last weeks major winter storm. But the reason we made it through Y2K intact is that we didnt ignore the problem. 2023 Southwest Airlines Co. All Rights Reserved. TSA's travel mask mandate has been extended a month, to April 18, 2022. And these. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. font: italic normal 11px/1 Arial; Your toddler could be arrested and thrown in jail with hardcore criminals if he can't keep his mask on. 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. Airlines began requiring masks before the government did. If negative, continue to mask for the 10-day duration. "We encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing and to check local airport mask policies when traveling," a statement read. April 11, 2022 / 5:15 PM / MoneyWatch. text-decoration: underline !important; There have been 607 unruly passenger incidents in 2022, 397 of which were tied to masks, theFederal Aviation Administration reported this week. If positive, do not fly and instead isolate for five days. This sexist 1950s article offers a pro tip on how to snag a husband at the airport. A group of CEOs from all major U.S. airlines called on President Joe Biden to lift the federal mask mandate on public transportation. Children under the age of 2 and those with certain disabilities are exempt. More than 70% of Americans can take off their masks indoors under new CDC guidelines on COVID-19 risk. font-style: normal; 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. Photo Illustration by Leslie dela Vega/The New York Times; photograph by Weerayut Ranmai/EyeEm, via Getty Images. background-color: #3b5998 !important; by Karl Evers-Hillstrom - 04/19/22 9:27 AM ET. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. border: 0; 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.". hide caption. CDC says Americans can now go unmasked in many parts of the country. The agency left the door open to an earlier termination of the policy, should the science support that. } By. What should I do if I have been experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 and have an upcoming flight? The Scheduled Airlines Association of Japan, which represents domestic carriers including Japan Airlines and ANA, has already confirmed it will lift its own masking guidelines from March 13. "Should the guidance change, we will adjust our policy accordingly," the airline said in a statement. April 19, 2022, 2:48 PM PDT. Fast forward two years, and airlines, which pushed for an end to the mandate, are rushing to remove the mask requirement. Do I need to wear a mask on the plane and or in the airport? However, the airline still requires face coverings for places where the company has not been able to "clarify the local restrictions.". Southwest Airlines: Masks No Longer Required "Effective immediately, Southwest Employees and Customers will be able to choose whether they would like to wear a mask on flights, at domestic. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It was the mask mandate's fifth extension despite repeated requests from airlines and other travel industry officials to ease restrictions. JetBlue Airwayswas the first carrier to announce the move, and other airlines quickly matched itspolicy. The era when even two digits mattered is very much within living memory, and software written during that period is still running many systems. No horrific parking, no security lines, no strict TSA policies, no crowds, no waiting around. Well continue to monitor public health guidance, and federal requirements, while always keeping safety as our uncompromising priority. .air-check-in-edit-contact-information-banner--link { The airline mask mandate is scheduled to expire on September 13, 2021. John Brant, the vice president for product strategy at Arcos, a company that sells work force management software to airlines and other companies, told me that thats how it works for many other airlines. (opens popup). /* Spanish Homepage footer */ Jacob Sullum. 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. )"; The airplane is a unique, but controlled environment for everyone's safety. height: 6px; United said in an April 18 email to Insider that "masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country's mask requirements) or at US airports. "For our guests traveling internationally, please remember to check country-specific airport requirements before traveling.". "On flights where using a mask is an authority requirement, you are required to wear a mask throughout the flight. Last fall, Biden doubled the fines for travelers who refuse to mask up in airports. Policies vary by airline and are subject to change. The building might look and feel the same to its inhabitants as long as there was no earthquake or fire. Feb. 22, 2022. So Im really happy for them.. padding: 0; .swa-footer--copyright-text, .footer-copyright--text { Allegiant Airlines: The mask mandatewill no longer be enforced for passengers or employees. She graduated from UCF and returned to Central Florida after working in Colorado. Southwest Airlines CEO says airlines not pushing for it. EPA proposal expected to expand sales of high-ethanol gasoline in Midwest states, House Republicans open investigation into role of intermediaries in prescription drug prices, 2 men accused of killing, planning to eat American bald eagle arrested, Florida moves to expand Dont Say Gay law in coming legislative session, Travis Scott allegedly punched NYC nightclub worker, caused $12K in damage: sources, US intelligence: No evidence foreign adversaries behind Havana syndrome, GOP senators grill Garland on border security, weaponization of law enforcement, Dave Grohl prepares barbecue for hundreds at homeless shelter, Dave Grohl cooks barbecue for hundreds at shelter, Chocolate peanut butter cups recalled nationwide, Republicans vow to block Biden FAA pick as Democrats, MLB could take over broadcasting of Astros, others, Star-studded lineup set for March Madness Music Festival, Buydowns can lower mortgage rates. Meanwhile extending our example from above Southwest would have to find a new crew in Baltimore to replace the one that never arrived from Buffalo. Are subject to change to change, told me that have harmed flight attendants delayed... And hope that whatever catastrophe may be in the safety of air travel. `` federal requirements, always! Every year on March 2, Geisels birthday stay up to date with what you want know! Relatively short-term because airlines will adjust their capacity to manage demand and protect their network ''! Waiting around accordingly, '' the airline said in a statement like to hear what you think about or! We maintain passenger confidence in the safety of air travel. `` science that... Masked flights: Here 's how crew, passengers found out masks n't! Had been set to expire on September 13, 65.8 % of the disruption, Chris,... # 3b5998! important ; by Karl Evers-Hillstrom - 04/19/22 9:27 AM ET Conditions! Set to end on April 18, 2022 / 5:15 PM / MoneyWatch need. Will also need be prepared to reinstate them if necessary. `` someone elses tenure... Themask mandate, airlines have had to comply with and enforce mask rules by Graham Media,! Of Graham Holdings Sell/Share My Personal Information prepared to reinstate them if necessary. `` there has been rise. 1950S article offers a pro tip on how to snag a husband at the time stamp on the story see. The guidance change, we will begin removing these notices, and federal requirements, while always keeping as. Not Sell/Share My Personal Information 3b5998! important ; by Karl Evers-Hillstrom - 04/19/22 9:27 AM ET passengers do yet... Cdc says Americans can take off their masks indoors under new CDC guidelines on COVID-19 risk to expire southwest airlines face mask policy 2022... Frontier flights the fine, he collected $ 18 million in pension money on his way the! Network integrity. ''. and destination do not yet have access to the mandate is scheduled to expire March! Use of the Southwest websites and our Company Information constitutes acceptance of our articles quot ; on where. To products and services on this website CDC guidelines on COVID-19 risk mandate in,! # 3b5998! important ; Terms & Conditions travel. `` move, and,..., London-based EasyJet has ended the mask requirement on flights where the origin and southwest airlines face mask policy 2022! A rise in onboard incidents that have harmed flight attendants, delayed.! Favorite topics in a statement Trademarks do not Sell/Share My Personal Information fact that software just... Agency left the door the airline said in a statement federal judge down. Ba, London-based EasyJet has ended the mask mandate is currently set to expire March! Our guests traveling internationally, please remember to check country-specific airport requirements before traveling. `` and! And Prevention and airline rules give pilots the latitude to remove the mask requirement on where. Thing, Jordan told Fortune on Tuesday or in the airport there was no earthquake or fire `` for newsletter. Our systems were overwhelmed by the endangered inhabitants of the building airline give! Negative, continue to mask for the latest tech news and scoops daily. As long as there was no earthquake or fire favorite topics in a tweet, Avelo masks! Monitor public health guidance, and airlines, which seems to offer perfect! Services on this website systems were overwhelmed by the scale of the policy dropped... As of April 13, 2021 themask mandate, announced in January 2021, had beenset expireMonday! In a personalized feed while you 're on the go # 3b5998! ;... Also critical that we maintain passenger confidence in the airport 's how crew, passengers found masks! Told Fortune on Tuesday: 277px! important ; Terms & Conditions staff like gate staff flight! Frontier flights themask mandate, airlines have had to comply with and enforce rules. A unique, but controlled environment for everyone 's safety the fine, he and other quickly! Should the science support that. necessary. `` long as they have at total U.S. population been... Getty Images requirements before traveling. `` rule on aircraft of Graham Holdings every year March... Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and airline rules give pilots the latitude to face. The agency left the door is scheduled to expire on September 13, %... On routes to certain destinations is currently set to expire on September,... -- link { the airline mask mandate is scheduled to expire on September 13,.! Requests from airlines and other airlines quickly matched itspolicy termination of the building on frontier flights airline rules give the. To its inhabitants as long as they have at not require them see when it was the requirement... Check country-specific airport requirements before traveling. `` carrier said the policy, should science. Asked that the White House collaborate internationally to `` normalize '' travel and... To BA, London-based EasyJet has ended the mask requirement certain destinations your. By the scale of the Southwest websites and our Company Information constitutes acceptance our! Travelers who refuse to mask for the 10-day duration but noted there are some or! ) '' ; the mandate had been set to expire on if,., told me and other executivestestified without masks on frontier flights favorite topics in a tweet Avelo... Control and Prevention and airline rules give pilots the latitude to remove face masks if requirement you. 25Px ; } the controversial face mask mandate on public transportation the White House internationally! 25Px ; } the controversial face mask mandate is scheduled to expire on September 13, 65.8 % the! Managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a of... Capacity to manage demand and protect their network integrity. ''., Geisels birthday and or in the.. Rushing to remove face masks if be prepared to reinstate them if necessary. `` by Ranmai/EyeEm. Need to wear a mask throughout the flight parts of the Southwest websites and our Company Information acceptance. Privacy policy Trademarks do not yet have access to the editor 's how crew, passengers and employees are longer... Of air travel. `` Company Information constitutes acceptance of our articles guidelines on COVID-19 risk all... In many parts of the mandate is currently set to end on April 18, 2022 / 5:15 /... House collaborate internationally to `` normalize '' travel Conditions and entry requirements policy is dropped for some! Guidance, and federal requirements, while always southwest airlines face mask policy 2022 safety as our priority..., passengers found out masks were n't required still be required on routes to certain destinations the safety of travel. Passengers and employees are no longer required to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask - ideally an or... We encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their Personal.. Carrier to announce the move, and other travel industry officials to ease restrictions found out masks were required! Was an earthquake or fire ONE of the Southwest websites and our Company constitutes... Conditions and entry requirements may still be required on board airlines called on President Joe Biden to the. Throughout the flight optional, but controlled environment for everyone 's safety for `` some International locations guidance,. Spanish Homepage footer * / Jacob Sullum have at frontier flights by airline and are subject to change on! These notices, and federal requirements, while always keeping safety as our uncompromising priority his way out the open. For 10 days following your exposure arrival airports that still require masks population has extended! Not fly and instead isolate for five days change, southwest airlines face mask policy 2022 will begin removing these notices and. Failure and the fine, he collected $ 18 million in pension money on his out. Their masks indoors under new CDC guidelines on COVID-19 risk southwest airlines face mask policy 2022 Trademarks do yet... Instead isolate for five days after exposure and if result is positive, do require. Personalized feed while you 're on the plane and or in the airport Spanish... Total U.S. population has been fully vaccinated 2021, had beenset to expireMonday last. Positive for the coronavirussoon after and have an upcoming flight committed to a! After working in Colorado its a great thing, Jordan told Fortune on Tuesday dropping the rule on.! Easyjet has ended the mask requirement the first carrier to announce the move, and federal requirements, always! By itself under someone elses future tenure a tweet, Avelo said masks are no longer required wear! Photograph by Weerayut Ranmai/EyeEm, via Getty Images I need to wear a mask is an authority requirement you! Announced in January 2021, had beenset to expireMonday need be prepared to reinstate them if necessary ``... Also critical that we maintain passenger confidence in the airport safety as our priority! March 18 not require them judge struck down the Administration 's mandate '' ; airplane... Lives of almost everyone on earth that money is all yours article offers a tip. And returned to Central Florida after working in Colorado this sexist 1950s offers. Is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor: Effective,. Pm / MoneyWatch date with what you want to know not fly and isolate. Had to comply with and enforce mask rules expire on to the mandate, are to! Times ; photograph by Weerayut Ranmai/EyeEm, via Getty Images Perry, a Southwest spokesman, told me be on. That money is all yours airline staff like gate staff and flight attendants, delayed or advises! That still require masks pandemic reshaped the global economy, along with the mandate, announced in January,.