U.S. Airlines Back Biden To Mandate Masks For Passengers

Major U.S. airlines on Thursday backed President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to mandate face coverings for all air passengers.

Airlines Letter To Biden

Airlines for America and others asked Biden in a letter to “allow air carriers to maintain their existing policies and practices.” This will resolve inflight conflicts and allow the aircraft to continue.

This also helps prohibiting passengers that do not comply from flying for the duration of the pandemic. “Thousands of passengers are banned to date,” in the letter to Biden. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, demanded a face covering mandate since early in the pandemic.

They state the mandate would provide one standard across U.S. aviation. This also backs up flight attendants and other airline workers who must enforce compliance.

Trump Administration

President Trump and others opposed the legal rule to wear mask on flights during the pandemic. The White House rejected efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to require face coverings.

Biden in October said he would mandate masks in all U.S. transportation and he has recently reiterated that plan. The Biden transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The airlines called on Biden to apply the rules to all modes of public transport. They also called for allowing “existing practices for food and beverage consumption. Along with medical distress and other rules included in air carrier operational policies.”

They also asked Biden not to extend the legal requirement to crew members.