Mask Mandates Overview
The federal government is currently no longer enforcing a transportation mask mandate. Consequently, some airports have taken the opportunity to eliminate their mask rules. However, not every airport has decided to follow this trend.
As a result of a recent ruling by a federal judge in Florida, many public transportation services, including airlines and trains, have moved to make masks optional. This change comes after the Transportation Security Administration ceased enforcement of the federal transportation mask mandate. In response, the Department of Justice has stated that they disagree with the ruling and are considering an appeal, pending the CDC’s assessment of the necessity of the mandate for public health.
Following this ruling, all major airlines in the United States, along with Amtrak and ride share services like Uber and Lyft, have made the decision to make masks optional for both passengers and employees. Additionally, several city public transportation services, like the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, have lifted their mask requirements.
However, some transportation services, including New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, will still require masks to be worn, along with certain airports across the nation.
Airports Requiring Masks
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
- LaGuardia Airport, New York
- New York Stewart International Airport, New York
Airports Not Requiring Masks
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Maryland
- Boston Logan International Airport, Massachusetts
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina
- Chicago Midway International Airport, Illinois
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Texas
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Hawaii
- Denver International Airport, Colorado
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Michigan
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Florida
- George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport, Texas
- Harry Reid International Airport, Nevada
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia
- Los Angeles International Airport, California
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Louisiana
- Miami International Airport, Florida
- Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota
- Nashville International Airport, Tennessee
- Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey
- O’Hare International Airport, Illinois
- Orlando International Airport, Florida
- Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Virginia
- Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah
- San Diego International Airport, California
- San Francisco International Airport, California
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington
- Tampa International Airport, Florida
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Alaska
- Washington Dulles International Airport, Virginia
