Planes, Trains, and Current Mask Policies

Following a federal judge's ruling in Florida that U.S. health agencies lack the authority to enforce a national transportation mask mandate, a wave of mask mandates being lifted swept across the nation, impacting planes, trains, and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. Nevertheless, some public transit areas continue to require masks. Here’s what we know so far.

The ruling was issued in a 59-page court order on April 18 by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, appointed by former President Donald Trump. The order asserted that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not adequately justify its mask mandate and failed to follow appropriate federal procedures in its implementation.

This decision arrived less than a week after the CDC, which issued the order, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), responsible for enforcement, announced they would extend the transportation mask requirement for an additional two weeks until May 3, 2022, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the BA.2 subvariant. The mandate had originally been scheduled to expire on April 18.

The White House described the ruling as “disappointing,” with spokesperson Jen Psaki stating that “the CDC still recommends wearing a mask in public transit.” In response to the ruling, the TSA released a statement indicating it will cease to enforce mask mandates in public transportation and transportation hubs.

The transportation mask mandate originated in January 2021 when the Biden administration and the CDC mandated masks on airplanes, airports, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, and in train, bus, and subway stations. (As of February 25, school buses and vans are exempt.) U.S. airlines had already enforced mask-wearing for passengers and crew since mid-2020.

Travelers have been required to wear masks on flights for almost two years. However, masks are no longer mandatory on U.S. flights. Here’s the current mask policy for planes, trains, and other modes of transportation, including rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.

No more masks on planes—an overview of the updated airline masking policies

Following the ruling on April 18, all major U.S. airlines have lifted their mask mandates for crew and passengers. Here’s their response to the change.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska quickly adopted a policy making masks optional on its flights after the April 18 ruling. The airline is reminding passengers that masks are still mandatory on flights to and from Canada.

“Remember to treat each other with kindness, and know that wearing a mask while traveling remains a choice,” stated Alaska.

American Airlines

On Monday, American announced that “following the Transportation Security Administration's decision to stop enforcing the federal face mask mandate, masks will no longer be mandatory for our customers and staff at U.S. airports and on domestic flights.”

American also reminded travelers that face mask requirements may still be in effect depending on local laws—for instance, Philadelphia has reinstated its indoor mask mandate—or when flying to or from international destinations that mandate masking on flights.

Delta Air Lines

Delta notified customers that while the mask mandate is no longer enforced in airports and on flights, “Delta employees and customers are welcome to continue wearing masks if they prefer.”

The airline encouraged travelers to remain patient and understanding in the following hours and days. “Due to the suddenness of this announcement, please recognize that customers, airline staff, and federal employees—such as TSA agents—may receive this information at different times. You might encounter varying enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news spreads. Please be considerate and patient with those who might not yet be aware that enforcement is no longer necessary,” stated Delta.

JetBlue

As of April 18, masks are now optional on JetBlue. That’s the straightforward message from the airline.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest informs passengers that while federal regulations no longer mandate masks in airports or on flights, “you are always welcome to wear a mask while traveling if that’s your preference—if you need one at the airport or onboard, we’ll have them available.”

The airline also reminds travelers that if certain cities or states enforce mask requirements at airports, passengers must adhere to those local regulations.

United Airlines

United Airlines announced Monday evening that “effective immediately, masks are no longer required on United’s domestic flights, select international flights (depending on the arrival country’s mask policies), or at U.S. airports.”

“While this means that our employees are no longer required to wear masks—and are not obligated to enforce mask rules for the majority of travelers—they can still opt to wear masks if they wish, as the CDC continues to strongly advise masking on public transit,” United stated in a message to Dinogo.

What are the current masking requirements in airports? Which hubs are affected?

Many U.S. airports have lifted their mask mandates following the April 18 announcement, including (but not limited to):

• Charlotte Douglas International Airport
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
• Denver International Airport
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport
• Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport
• Los Angeles International Airport
• Newark Liberty International Airport
• Orlando International Airport
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• San Francisco International Airport
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

However, not all airports are eliminating the mask requirement. Travelers should verify the latest regulations for the airports they are departing from and arriving at. As of now, masks are still required in the following airports:

• Chicago's O’Hare and Midway airports
• LaGuardia Airport in New York
• John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York
• Philadelphia International Airport

Mask Requirements on Trains and Buses

Amtrak, the national rail service, has announced that passengers are no longer obligated to wear masks while traveling on trains or within Amtrak stations. However, they noted that “masks are welcome and continue to be an important measure against COVID-19. Anyone who needs or wishes to wear one is encouraged to do so.”

In New York, Tim Minton, communications director for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), stated that masks remain mandatory on subways, buses, and commuter rail lines, maintaining this requirement since the early days of the pandemic.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the major airports, buses, and trains in the New York area, has declared that masks are required at New York facilities, while they are optional at those in New Jersey. Masks are still required on Port Authority buses and trains that operate between the two states.

The transit agency for Philadelphia and its suburbs has announced that masks will no longer be necessary on its subways, buses, and trains, as well as in its stations and concourses. This change comes despite Philadelphia recently reinstating an indoor mask mandate and requiring masks at Philadelphia International Airport terminals.

The regional train service for the Washington, D.C. area declared on Monday that masks will be optional for both customers and employees moving forward.

Southern California’s Metrolink passenger rail system, which covers five counties, is also dropping the mask requirement. However, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation still advise on their websites that masks are mandatory.

In Northern California, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, which serves San Francisco and nearby areas, has stated as of April 19, that “BART hasn’t made an official or final decision on whether a mask mandate will continue.”

Masks are no longer necessary in ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber

Ridesharing giants Lyft and Uber announced on their websites Tuesday that wearing masks will now be optional for both riders and drivers.

Lyft stated, “We recognize that everyone has different comfort levels, and anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask is encouraged to do so. As always, drivers and riders have the option to decline or cancel any ride they prefer not to take.”

Both companies have lifted the requirement for passengers to sit in the back seat, although Uber mentioned, “To ensure drivers have enough space, we recommend that riders use the front seat only if necessary due to their group size.”

Is there a possibility that a federal mask mandate could be reinstated?

On April 19, the Department of Justice announced its intention to appeal Judge Mizelle’s ruling if the CDC determines that a mask mandate should stay in effect beyond May 3, the expiration date of the federal mask requirement.

“The Department of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disagree with the district court’s ruling. . . . The Department maintains that the order mandating masks in transportation settings is a legitimate exercise of the authority Congress granted to the CDC for public health protection,” stated the DOJ in a statement.

On April 19, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki remarked to reporters that “public health decisions should not be determined by the courts, but rather by public health experts.”

Regarding whether U.S. travelers should keep wearing masks on planes, the CDC’s latest update indicates that it “still recommends individuals wear masks in indoor public transportation environments at this time.”

Psaki emphasized that the Biden administration is “following the CDC's recommendations... and we advise all Americans to do the same.”

Despite the guidance, many travelers were eager for the mask mandate to end—54 percent indicated they wanted the federal mask requirement to lapse, according to a survey from travel app TripIt from Concur released earlier this month. TripIt surveyed over 700 U.S.-based users in early April, finding that only one-third wished for an extension of the mandate, while 16 percent had no preference on the matter.

Best Practices for Protecting Yourself While Traveling

Dr. Thomas Russo, the head of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, emphasizes that certain individuals should still wear masks while traveling, despite the removal of the mandate:

• Unvaccinated individuals
• Immunocompromised individuals
• People over 50, those with serious underlying health conditions, and/or pregnant individuals who haven't received a COVID vaccine booster
• Anyone living with individuals in the above categories

For those wishing to keep wearing masks, Dr. Amesh Adalja, an expert in infectious diseases and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, explains that using a high-quality mask can offer considerable protection, even if others choose not to wear one. “It's crucial to understand that individuals can opt to wear masks based on their own risk tolerance... and that one-way masking, particularly with today’s high-quality masks, is effective,” Dr. Adalja informs Dinogo.

What defines a “high-quality” mask? N95 masks have emerged as the benchmark for effective protection.

The CDC notes in its latest mask guidance that, "Loosely woven cloth items offer the least protection, while finely woven layers provide more. Well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s deliver even greater protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators (like N95s) provide the highest level of safety." (NIOSH stands for National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.)

Though KN95 and N95 masks (often referred to as respirators) provide similar protection, N95s are viewed as superior due to their NIOSH certification, which guarantees quality manufacturing. The CDC reported that roughly 60% of KN95 respirators assessed by NIOSH during the pandemic were of inadequate quality, making it essential to purchase high-quality KN95s from trusted sources, often produced overseas.

This article was originally published on March 2, 2022, and has been updated with the latest information. Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.