The judge’s decision Monday freed airlines, airports and mass transit systems to make their own decisions about mask requirements, resulting in a mix of responses.
On a Southwest Airlines flight from Detroit to Nashville Monday evening, the change to optional status was incorporated into the safety announcements, prompting murmurs and fist pumps from some passengers and no audible complaints.
Subway rider Cooper Klinges was pleased that New York City’s public transit system wasn’t following the trend and planned to keep its mask requirement in place.
“I don’t think we are out of the woods yet,” said Klinges, a teacher, citing concerns about the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus.
As of Monday evening, the website of ride sharing company Lyft still said masks were required.
The mask requirement covered airlines, airports, mass transit and taxis, and was the biggest vestige of pandemic restrictions that were once the norm across the country.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking procedures that left the mask mandate fatally flawed.
The federal mask requirement for travelers was the target of months of lobbying from the airlines, which sought to kill it.
“We are relieved to see the U.S.
Republicans in Congress also fought to kill the mandate.
Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas.