Many travelers were seen celebrating on flights as it was announced that airlines have dropped mask requirements.
The announcement came after a Florida federal judge ruled the federal mask mandate for public transpiration unlawful.
Shortly after the ruling, several airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines relaxed their mask requirements.
While on an Alaska Airlines flight, Ben Dietderich, the press secretary for Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska, recorded the announcement from a pilot.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. This is the most important announcement I’ve ever made,” the pilot said. “The federal mask mandate is over. Take off your mask if you choose!”
Another video shows a pilot announcing the end to the mask mandate. “Effective immediately, masks are optional for all airport employees, crew members and customers inside U.S. airports and on board all aircraft domestically,” he said.
United and Delta lifted the mask requirement for all domestic flights. United said the change in policy would apply to “select international flights” and Delta said masks would be optional on “most international flights”.
Southwest and American Airlines also removed the mask requirement for travelers and employees, but did not specify if it will apply to international flights.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said airline employees and passengers “deserve to have this misery end”.
In New York, Metropolitan Transportation Authority communications director Tim Minton said the system is “continuing to follow CDC guidelines and will review the Florida court order”.
NJ Transit announced that it will no longer require masks, and Amtrak also said passengers and employees are no longer required to wear them.
