Chances are you haven’t flown in the last six weeks, but while the TSA numbers are close to zero because of the pandemic, there are still some people who have braved the recirculated air of airplane cabins. To keep people safe, many airlines have been requiring staff to wear face masks — and now, that policy is starting to extend to passengers.
On Monday, JetBlue announced in a press release that the airline will be requiring customers “to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey, including during check-in, boarding, while in flight and deplaning.” As Fast Company reported, it’s the first major airline to implement this mandatory policy, and others may follow.
“Wearing a face covering isn’t about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting those around you,” said Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue president and chief operating officer, in a statement. “This is the new flying etiquette. Onboard, cabin air is well circulated and cleaned through filters every few minutes, but this is a shared space where we have to be considerate of others. We are also asking our customers to follow these CDC guidelines in the airport as well.”
JetBlue’s policy will be enforced starting on May 4, and as expected there’s no word on how long the policy will last.
So what type of mask should you wear on an airplane? JetBlue, following CDC recommendations, actually suggests passengers wear cloth masks instead of medical-grade masks that should “be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders.” Also, they note that there is one exception to the rule: small children who can’t safely wear masks.
If you don’t have a mask with ear loops and all, a bandana will work. But there is no shortage of fashionable masks you can buy that support good causes.
Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.
