https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a...testing-requirement/


BY KRIS VAN CLEAVE

MARCH 23, 2022 / 7:15 PM / CBS NEWS

The CEOs of the nation's largest airlines are asking the Biden administration to drop the federal mask mandate on airplanes, along with the pre-departure testing requirement for international travelers. Although COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have fallen sharply in the last two months and restrictions are being lifted across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month extended its mass transit mask mandate by 30 days, until mid-April, and masking guidelines for airlines remain in place.


"Now is the time for the administration to sunset federal transportation travel restrictions – including the international predeparture testing requirement and the federal mask mandate – that are no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment," the CEOs of 10 U.S.-based passenger and cargo airlines, including Delta, American and United, wrote in a letter to President Biden.

The letter states that while the airlines and their employees supported the federal mask mandate when it was first implemented, especially because it did away with the possibility for airline-by-airline rules in the early days of the pandemic, they now feel it is no longer necessary.


"The persistent and steady decline of hospitalization and death rates are the most compelling indicators that our country is well protected against severe disease from COVID-19," the letter states. "Given that we have entered a different phase of dealing with this virus, we strongly support your view that 'COVID-19 need no longer control our lives.'"

While initially popular with employees, over the past two years flight attendants and gate agents in particular have taken the brunt of flyer frustration over the masking rules. Despite fewer flyers than pre-pandemic levels, cases of disruptive passengers have soared over the last two years. Airlines last year banned thousands of passengers due to unruly behavior.

"It is critical to recognize that the burden of enforcing both the mask and predeparture testing requirements has fallen on our employees for two years now," the letter read. "This is not a function they are trained to perform and subjects them to daily challenges by frustrated customers. This in turn takes a toll on their own well-being."

Citing the planes' onboard air filtration systems as well as the nation's high level of immunity thanks to vaccines and prior infection and the CDC's most recent guidance indicating that 99% of the U.S. population live in areas of low or medium transmission and therefor no longer needs to wear masks indoors, the carriers argue it is time to wind down masking rules for them as well.

Why write letters asking for permission? There was never any supporting data on mask efficacy. Just say Let's Go Brandon and not enforce the bullshit.

Our corporate leaders, the CEO's of America, are all a bunch of pussies. They failed to stand up to tyranny and let them trample over good citizens.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Our corporate leaders, the CEO's of America, are all a bunch of pussies. They failed to stand up to tyranny and let them trample over good citizens.

Yup…you describe the CEO of my company PERFECTLY! He could’ve kicked EVERY ONE of his competitors square in the nutsack and done away with mask mandates a year ago. Passengers would have FLOCKED to the ticket counter (see what I did there… ). But Mr. “it’s about safety” was too busy felating Brandon to think past his own pecker…

After what he did to over 2,000 of his employees with that bullsh*t mandate and NOW he signs this letter?? He deserves a just flogging……

This cannot happen soon enough. I fly 40-50 segments a year and have become fed up with it all.

Why in hell do the airlines include as part of the onboard announcements that mask-wearing is "federal law" and must be complied with OR ELSE! It is absolutely not a federal law, and can barely be called a mandate.

Until the Karen-Mandates are removed I'm not setting foot on a commercial flight.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Why write letters asking for permission? There was never any supporting data on mask efficacy. Just say Let's Go Brandon and not enforce the bullshit.

Our corporate leaders, the CEO's of America, are all a bunch of pussies. They failed to stand up to tyranny and let them trample over good citizens.

You're kidding, right? Washington owns the airlines, and they know it. The airlines aren't about to bite the hand that keeps them in business. This is what happens when you climb into bed with someone who only wants to control you.

quote:

Originally posted by wxdave:
This cannot happen soon enough. I fly 40-50 segments a year and have become fed up with it all.

Why in hell do the airlines include as part of the onboard announcements that mask-wearing is "federal law" and must be complied with OR ELSE! It is absolutely not a federal law, and can barely be called a mandate.

much in the same way that the seat cushion is a flotation device...and the life vest will save your life...

all it will do is help keep the body afloat so they can pull it onto the boat

there is only one kind of water landing, and that is on a float plane...anything else that lands on water has crashed

I just canceled over $4,000 in airfare for a trip late next month with Delta. The mandate was supposed to be over, and I was supposed to officiate a funeral. I'm not playing the mask game, and they can all go bankrupt for all I care.

The pilot and stewardess unions brought this on themselves.

If the airlines get this, then that's one more thing that proves the 'crisis' was over - and it's that one step more difficult for the Dems to get away with claiming that 'emergency conditions' make mail-in and harvested ballots necessary in the 2022 elections.