12.03.21 – Federal Mask Mandate Extended Through March 18, 2022

Friday, December 3, 2021

Federal Mask Mandate Extended Through March 18, 2022

The federal mandate requiring that masks be worn on airplanes and in airports has been extended through March 18. Passengers and aviation workers, regardless of vaccination status, must continue to wear masks while traveling. Air travel is a shared space and some of our passengers, including young children, are not able to be vaccinated. As the coronavirus continues to mutate and spread through large unvaccinated populations, a clear and consistent federal mandate across the industry ensures there is no confusion on the requirement of wearing a mask while traveling.

“Flight Attendants are looking forward to the day when face coverings are no longer a requirement for air travel,” said APFA National President Julie Hedrick. “With a significant percentage of the US population still unvaccinated and limited vaccine access to billions of people around the globe, new COVID-19 variants will continue to be a challenge. We need to do all that we can to contain this virus and end the pandemic. APFA encourages world leaders to support a waiver of intellectual property so that the distribution of the vaccines can be more widely available around the world. Until then, we will continue to support enhanced safety protocols as directed by public health officials to ensure that air transportation remains safe.

While Flight Attendants continue to bear the brunt of mask non-compliance issues, the federal mandate, in tandem with the FAA Zero-Tolerance Policy, civil penalties, criminal prosecution from the DOJ, provides important accountability for passengers who choose to violate and escalate this policy.

As aviation professionals, we pride ourselves on maintaining the safest aviation system in the world. As we combat this pandemic, simply wearing a mask when we travel can protect ourselves and those around us. The safest possible air travel experience is critical to keeping our industry stable. Passengers must feel safe to be willing to fly.

APFA will continue to heed guidance from the CDC’s scientists and medical experts to contain the virus. Please continue to take all available precautions to bring this pandemic to an end together.

In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
APFA Government Affairs Representative

Lori Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representative

[email protected]