Flight attendants push for federal mask mandate extension
Flight attendants and their unions are pushing hard for the federal mask mandate to be extended again.
The mandate is currently due to expire on March 18.
While states have removed many indoor mask mandates, aircraft cabins are a unique space that need extra protections, they say.
This is true especially for children too young to get vaccinated.
“We have every expectation that the mask mandate will be extended for the near term. The conditions in aviation are the same. Our youngest passengers do not yet have access to the vaccine,” the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said.
“The layered approach to safety and security includes masks.”
While the likelihood is that the mandate will be extended again, there is opposition from some airline bosses.
The number of unruly passenger incidents related to mask wearing has been falling but still remains a safety and security issue.
There have been about 400 unruly passenger incidents reported so far in 2022.
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