Euphoric celebrations are breaking out across the country after airlines announced the end of mask mandates on planes and at the airport. The decision comes after a federal judge in Florida struck down the Biden administration’s mandatory mask mandate for travelers on planes and other public forms of transportation, NPR reports.
Several videos posted to social media showed people reacting with jubilation as they sat on airplanes without masks for the first time in more than two years.
Passengers react after airlines announce “masks are optional” on flights https://t.co/VczupHhaM4 pic.twitter.com/pLt3zjmhrK
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 19, 2022
BREAKING! Masks 😷 are no longer required on airplane,buses # trains 🚊 🚞✈️ 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/PqLfpT76sv
— Marinela Pavletich (@MarinelaPavleti) April 20, 2022
One flight attendant was singing “throw away your masks” while walking around with a trash bag.
Posting again because Twitter deleted (?)
The end of the #maskmandate has this plane singing
🎶 Throw away your masks 🎶 pic.twitter.com/BvvCNLE6Ts
— Guy P. Football (@Guy_P_Football) April 19, 2022
Many passengers responded with cheers as pilots announced the news about the end of the mask mandates.
Mid flight a pilot announces the removal of the mask mandate.
Travellers respond by removing their masks and clapping.
pic.twitter.com/MJ0o4l9zGZ— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) April 19, 2022
Despite the recent jubilation over the end of mask mandates on planes, increasing tensions were seen on flights in the past two years as some passengers refused to wear masks.
As Blavity previously reported, a couple on a JetBlue flight engaged in an altercation with crew members in September after being told to wear masks. Another woman, who was kicked off a plane in July after refusing to wear a mask, was mocked by passengers while she headed for the exit.
Although masks are no longer required on flights, airlines are advising people to conform with the rules where they land, particularly for international flights.
Some people are still concerned about another surge of COVID-19 cases.
I’ll still wear my mask thank you. Who knew keeping people safe was “unlawful.” What do we need police for then?
— ivy_cpa2013 (@ICpa2013) April 19, 2022
Florida! People better just wear the mask anyway. Can we request not to sit next to someone without a mask?
— janis fulks (@janisfulks) April 19, 2022
Alaska Airlines said its team will be ready to respond if there is another surge.
“Please remember to be kind to one another and that wearing a mask while traveling is still an option,” the airline said in a statement.
Delta Air Lines said passengers may initially encounter “inconsistent enforcement” until the news is “broadly communicated.”
“Communications to customers and in-airport signage and announcements will be updated to share that masking is now optional — this may take a short period of time,” the company stated.