--- title: Flight execs are ready for mask mandates to end - The Hustle description: The mask mandate for transit is maybe coming to an end — or so air execs hope. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/443662331-HS-News-Brief_2022-04-12T234629.385Z-scaled.webp --- # Flight execs are ready for mask mandates to end ![Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) [Juliet Bennett Rylah Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/JBRylah) Published: April 13, 2022 Updated: October 11, 2023 A lot of places have loosened restrictions on masks — but not planes, trains, or buses. ![Flight execs are ready for mask mandates to end](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/443662331-HS-News-Brief_2022-04-12T234629.385Z-scaled.webp?width=595&height=400&name=443662331-HS-News-Brief_2022-04-12T234629.385Z-scaled.webp) In March, TSA [extended](https://www.npr.org/2022/03/10/1085739883/mask-mandate-planes-trains-ferries-tsa-cdc) mask mandates for transit until April 18, per CDC recommendations. But as the new expiration date approaches, there’s been some turbulence. #### **Is it really ending?** Maybe? On the “Today” show, White House covid response coordinator Dr. Ashish K. Jha [said](https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1513479635253837826) the CDC was developing a “scientific framework” for masks on transit, and that an extension is “absolutely on the table.” #### **Airline execs really want the mandate to end** On March 23, several sent [a letter](https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/airlines-seek-end-to-federal-pandemic-requirements/49628ffc-74b7-471e-b38d-db8a42201316/?itid=lk_inline_manual_4) to the White House arguing that extended mandates make “no sense” when people are unmasked in restaurants and schools. Plus, crews are tired of enforcing it. Of all 5.9k+ unruly passenger reports in 2021, ~72% involved masks, [per](https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/2021_archive/) the FAA. #### **Recently, the FAA issued record-high fines…** … against [2 unruly passengers](https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-levies-largest-fines-ever-against-two-unruly-passengers) at $81.9k and $77.2k, respectively, for incidents in July 2021. Why so high? The FAA can issue fines up to [$37k per violation](https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2022/01/22/unruly-passenger-delta-ireland-jfk/6620752001/) — and they can stack. One traveler allegedly threatened, hit, and spit at flight attendants; the other is accused of trying to kiss her seatmate and biting another passenger. Those aren’t entirely about masks — though they probably would have helped with the kissing and spitting — but you can bet more fines are en route: - In January, a Delta passenger who refused to wear his mask allegedly [mooned](https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2022/01/22/unruly-passenger-delta-ireland-jfk/6620752001/) a flight attendant and threw a can at another passenger. - Last year, a woman [pleaded guilty](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/us/southwest-flight-attendant-vyvianna-quinonez-guilty.html) to punching a flight attendant in the face after being told to buckle her seat and fix her mask during a Southwest flight. **BTW:** We’ve said this before but still can’t believe the FAA [made memes](https://www.faa.gov/data_research/passengers_cargo/unruly_passengers/toolkit/digital_signage/unruly_behavior/) to convince people to behave on planes. 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