More airlines requiring requiring masks

For a number of weeks, airlines have been implementing new practices and procedures in order to make their planes safer to travel in for passengers worried about catching coronavirus. We’ve seen things like altered food and drink services and banning of the middle seat assignments. 

One of the most recent and quickest changes to develop is the requirement to wear masks.

Recently, some of the major domestic airlines implemented a mandatory mask or face covering requirement beginning today and now more airlines are requiring a face covering.

Starting today, United, Delta, and JetBlue are requiring all passengers to wear masks. Meanwhile, on May 11 other airlines like Spirit, American, Southwest, and Alaska will require passengers to cover their face.

On May 8, Frontier Airlines will require passengers to wear face coverings that cover both the nose and mouth.

The way that the airlines are going about their policies is a little bit different.

For example, airlines like Southwest and United are providing their passengers with masks if they need them and don’t have their own. But as for Spirit Airlines, passengers must bring their own masks.

Many of the airlines are requiring passengers to wear the coverings throughout their entire journey. So from the time of checking in and waiting for boarding to the time of deplaning and possibly picking up baggage, passengers are being asked to wear their face coverings.

Some airlines like Allegiant Air are not requiring masks but they are recommending it and even offering passengers single use face masks.

Since so many passengers are already wearing masks voluntarily, some airlines don’t feel the need to mandate it.

I think these mask requirements are a major step forward for reducing the risk while flying.

By having both passengers and crew containing the spread of particles with masks and utilizing advanced sanitation methods, I think this will make flying much safer.

I personally would not feel very uneasy about flying if I had to take a trip with these measures in effect.

I’d still be diligently wiping down armrests, luggage, etc. and using hand sanitizer, but I would feel more confident that the air I’m breathing has less of a chance of being contaminated.

One of the biggest issues for planes though may be that they offer the ideal environment for the virus to live long. High temperature and high humidity environments are likely the worst for coronavirus but a cool and dry environment like an aircraft really is the perfect environment for it to thrive.

H/T