Skip to content

Mask mandates questioned during Capitol Hill hearing, but — in the end — airline CEOs hold the line

Dec. 16, 2021
5 min read
Mask mandates questioned during Capitol Hill hearing, but — in the end — airline CEOs hold the line
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

The CEOs of American Airlines and Southwest on Wednesday questioned the need for continuing mask mandates on flights, suggesting that flying maskless is safe.

"I think the case is very strong that masks don't add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment," Southwest chief Gary Kelly said. "It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting."

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free new biweekly Aviation newsletter!

Both executives' comments came during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the Payroll Support Program aid that major airlines received.

"I concur; an aircraft is the safest place you can be," Parker said. "It's true of all of our aircraft — they all have the same HEPA filters and airflow."

Delta CEO Ed Bastian, speaking with CNBC on Thursday, took a different tone than his Texas-based counterparts, saying he still supports the mask mandate.

“I don't know that I agree with Gary's remarks, particularly as we see omicron continue to enter into our country," Bastian said during an interview. "Masks are going to be important as a safeguard for a while yet.”

American and Southwest also moved Thursday to qualify the comments made by their CEOs.

American clarified that Parker was agreeing about the air quality aboard aircraft and "did not intend to cast doubt on the necessity of face masks on planes."

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Southwest also issued a statement describing the air recirculation and filtration as "creating a protective environment prior to the added layer of wearing a mask."

"Southwest Airlines continues to abide by the federal mask mandate for customers and employees both within the airport environment and onboard all Southwest aircraft," the statement said.

Airlines have touted frequent air circulation through high-efficiency air particulate (HEPA) filters as significantly reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission aboard most large commercial airplanes. While some case studies have shown that transmission is possible, other models and studies, including one conducted by United, Boeing and the Department of Defense, found the risk to be minimal.

The federal mask mandate was extended through March 2022 following the discovery of the omicron variant. It was originally set to expire in September of this year, but was subsequently extended through January 2022 as the Delta variant began to take hold in the U.S.

The mask mandate has been a source of controversy as travel demand has recovered, with confrontations over masks cited as one of the causes of a spike in unruly passengers aboard commercial flights. The current debate comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge across the United States.

While the mandates were initially lauded as a way to restore consumer confidence in air travel, and a way to empower flight attendants and bring uniformity to disparate policies between different airlines, they have become a greater cause of contention in recent months.

More than half of passengers were opposed to continuing mandatory wearing of masks aboard aircraft in a recent survey conducted by Southwest, CEO Gary Kelly told TPG during an interview earlier this month.

Regardless, the new variant, which early data suggest is more contagious and immune evasive than the delta variant, means that the mandate will likely stay in place, according to Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and head of Atmosphere Research.

"Even though airline passengers do tend to have an above-average rate of vaccination, at least the adults, you still have a critical mass of airline passengers that are not vaccinated," Harteveldt told TPG. "Airlines simply can't reduce their vigilance in keeping passengers safe."

The concept of boosting consumer confidence is especially important as the new variant spreads, Harteveldt added.

"Various studies show that the air on a commercial aircraft is very clean thanks to the HEPA filters and the constant state of recirculation of fresh air," he said. "But I don't think we're at a point yet where the mandate can be lifted, unfortunately."

"Those comments were not helpful at all," Sara Nelson, head of the Association of Flight Attendants, told CNN on Thursday. "Gary Kelly came over to me after the hearing and said that our layered approach to safety and security is what's necessary to keep people safe on the planes."

Read more: Is Canada next? Retiring Southwest CEO Gary Kelly discusses carrier’s future

"I want to be very clear that the airline industry from the very beginning has worked with us to put mask policies in place even before the federal government put that in place, and they continue to support that," Nelson added.

Nelson noted that both Kelly and Parker generally support the mandate, and criticized mixed messaging for confusing passengers and making enforcement more difficult for flight attendants.

"The biggest problem for flight attendants is that when there's inconsistency in communication, that puts us in harm's way."

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

NEW BENEFIT! TAKEOFF15!
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
3 / 5
Go to review

Rewards

1 - 3X points
3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2XEarn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus Miles
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Annual Fee

$250

Recommended Credit

670-850
Excellent/Good
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees
Apply for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
3 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2XEarn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer
    Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

    Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles
    50,000 Bonus Miles
  • Annual Fee

    $250
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    670-850
    Excellent/Good

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees