Has the Department of Transportation declined to mandate masks for all airline passengers?
By Allegra Taylor
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YES
The Department of Transportation declined a labor group's request to mandate masks in airports and on airplanes, responding that it considers guidelines currently in place to be adequate.
The petition was filed by the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, a coalition of 33 airline staff unions, Transportation Security Administration employees, ferry operators and bus drivers.
In July 2020, the Department of Transportation outlined guidelines for the airline industry encouraging but not requiring passengers to wear masks. Airlines have independently required passengers to wear masks, with some threatening do-not-fly status for noncompliant travelers.
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