Big change to US holidays – airlines finally scrap masks on planes
US AIRLINES have scrapped the need for face masks onboard flights, after the mask mandate was dropped by the federal government.
Wearing a face covering will now be a "personal choice" for holidaymakers travelling from the UK to America.
Virgin Atlantic have updated their onboard face mask policy as of this morning.
, the Biden administration has announced that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer enforce the federal mandate requiring masks onboard aircraft.
"Effective immediately (Tuesday 19 April), face masks will be a personal choice for our customers and people travelling in either direction between the UK and the United States...
"We encourage everyone to be respectful of fellow passengers' mask preferences, with masks still available for those wishing to wear them."
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Just last week the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended the mandatory face covering rule until May 3.
But US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle struck down the rule this week, calling it "unlawful."
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Major carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines announced they would relax restrictions with immediate effect.
US national train line Amtrak has also scrapped its enforcement of covid-19 mask rules.
Last month, British Airways, TUI and EasyJet announced they were scrapping mandatory face masks onboard flights - but it would depend on where the passenger was flying to.
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EasyJet has specified that passengers won't need to wear masks if they are flying from England to Northern Ireland, Jersey, Denmark, Gibraltar, Iceland or Hungary.
However, they will still need masks if they are flying to all other easyJet destinations, including Spain, France, Italy and Scotland.
