JetBlue Is The First U.S. Airline To Require Passengers To Wear Face Masks

African American man wearing a face masks against air pollution and covid19 coronavirus, standing on escalator, using his smartphone and holding a suitcase. Photo Credit: Envato

If you’ve booked a flight with JetBlue Airlines, then be sure to pack a face mask in your carry-on. The company has just announced that all customers will be required to wear face coverings to travel.

Company officials say the new policy was implemented to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and goes into effect on May 4.

Prior to the new policy, only crew members were required to wear face coverings, as reported in ABC 7.

“Wearing a face covering isn’t about protecting yourself it’s about protecting those around you,” saidJoanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer of JetBlue. “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.”

This new policy will require customers to wear a face-covering over their nose and mouth throughout their journey, including during check-in, boarding, while in flight, and deplaning. Customers will be

African American man wearing a face masks against air pollution and covid19 coronavirus, standing on escalator, using his smartphone and holding a suitcase.

reminded of this requirement before their flight via email and at the airport by both terminal signage and announcements. Small children who are not able to maintain a face covering are exempt from this requirement.

JetBlue’s announcement comes right after The Association of Flight Attendants sent a letter to the Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Human Services asking that passengers be required to wear masks and to suspend leisure travel until the virus is contained.

“Flight attendants have been hard hit by the virus” the letter reads. “At airlines employing AFA member flight attendants, at least 250 have tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and flight attendants have died as a result of the virus too.”

Delta recently announced that it is joining American, United, and JetBlue airlines in requiring employees to wear face masks or face coverings.

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