Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

From Planes, to Ubers to Trains: Here's How the New Mask Mandate Ruling Will Affect Your Travels The CDC's mask mandate for public transportation that went into effect in February 2021 was ruled "unlawful" in a hearing on Monday.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A major milestone in the coronavirus pandemic was reached on Monday when the Biden administration's policy for requiring masks on public transportation was ruled "unlawful" by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle for the Middle District of Florida.

Effective immediately, mask requirements on airplanes, trains, buses, etc. were dropped for the first time since the federal mandate was put into place by the CDC in February 2021.

It was also clarified that TSA will not be enforcing mask-wearing policies in airports and on airplanes.

Here's what this means moving forward.

Airlines have independently released statements on how they will handle the new ruling

Even though the federal mandate was lifted, independent airlines and companies can still make mask-wearing policies mandatory for travelers if they so choose.

Delta Airlines has ruled that masks will be optional for all employees, crew members and flyers in airports and onboard domestically, noting that this policy also applies for "most international flights," provided the countries being flown in and out of don't have their own mask policies at play.

The airline's statement was edited on Tuesday after the company caught major flack for its original wording that referred to Covid as a "seasonal virus".

Related: Fauci Says It Might Be Time to Relax Indoor Mask Requirements

"We are relieved to see the U.S. mask mandate lift to facilitate global travel as COVID-19 has transitioned to an ordinary seasonal virus," Delta's original statement said. "Thank you for your support in complying with the federal mask mandate and keeping each other, and our customers, safe during the pandemic."

Delta joins United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines, which have all released statements stating that mask-wearing will be optional domestically but selectively required internationally.

Most airlines encouraged customers to check mask and pandemic-related travel requirements in the countries that they will be traveling to and from outside of the U.S.

Certain regional airports will still keep the mask mandates enforced in accordance with state guidelines

Major New York City-area airports LaGuardia Airport and JFK will still require passengers to wear masks while walking around the transportation hubs.

Philadelphia International Airport and San Francisco International Airport are also continuing to enforce mask mandates at this time.

Passengers are encouraged to check their local airport's policy before arriving.

Statewide public transportation systems are continuing to enforce mask mandates

New York's MTA system will continue to enforce mask mandates for passengers. This includes the subway, New York City buses and the two train lines that operate out of New York City, the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North.

New York is joined by the CTA in Chicago, the BART system in the San Francisco area and the LA Metro system in Los Angeles.

New Jersey will not require masks on its public transportation system, New Jersey Transit, however, nor will the WMATA system based in Washington, D.C.

Amtrak has also dropped mask requirements for travelers aboard its trains.

Rideshare companies are also adjusting their policies

Uber announced that it would remove mask requirements for riders in an email sent out to customers on Tuesday. The company will also change its no front seat policy, which has prohibited passengers from sitting in the front seat of Uber vehicles since the pandemic began.

Lyft followed shortly thereafter by also dropping mask requirements and once again allowing riders to sit in the front seat.

For both companies, the policy is in play for both riders and drivers.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

Elon Musk Still Isn't Getting His Historically High Pay as CEO of Tesla — Here's Why

A second shareholder vote wasn't enough to convince Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick.

Leadership

Leadership vs. Management: How to Understand the Difference and 6 Ways to Bridge the Gap

Here are the key differences between leadership and management, highlighting their complementary roles and providing six strategies to develop managers into future leaders.

Growing a Business

Her Restaurant Business Is Worth $100 Million — Here's Her Unconventional Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, talks about going from TV producer to restaurant owner, leaning into failure and the value of good PR.

Legal

How Do You Stop Porch Pirates From Stealing Christmas? These Top Tips Will Help Secure Your Deliveries.

Over 100 million packages were stolen last year. Here are top tips to make sure your stuff doesn't get swiped.

Business News

'Something Previously Impossible': New AI Makes 3D Worlds Out of a Single Image

The new technology allows viewers to explore two-dimensional images in 3D.

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.