US extends aircraft face mask mandate

The White House has confirmed that travellers will be required to wear face masks on aircraft in the US until April.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on Thursday that it was extending the mandate – which also applies to rail travel – until April 18, just one week before it was due to expire.

In a statement shared on Thursday, TSA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they would work with other government agencies “to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor”.

More: Tui Airways drops mask mandate

The mandate will be revised based on Covid case numbers, the risk of new variants and emerging national data.

Exemptions remain for travellers under the age of two, and for those with certain disabilities.

THe mandate could be removed earlier than mid-April if the science supports such a move, the CDC added.

The TSA’s statement reads: “At CDC’s recommendation, TSA will extend the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs for one month through 18 April.

“During that time, CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor.

“This revised framework will be based on the Covid-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. We will communicate any updates publicly if and/or when they change.”

Numerous UK airlines have removed the requirement for face masks on flights in the past week.

Low-cost carrier Jet2 was the first major airline to announce that face masks were no longer obligatory on flights, followed by Tui.