CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Masks are no longer required at Corpus Christi International Airport, or on flights in the United States, after a federal judge struck down the federal mask mandate covering air travel and other public transportation Monday.
"Due to a court ruling to overturn the mask mandate, effective immediately, TSA will no longer enforce its Security Directives requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs. Masks are no longer required at CCIA," a statement from the airport said.
Likewise, the White House has acknowledged that the mandate is “is not in effect at this time," but added that federal agencies are currently deciding how to respond to the judge’s order.
According to CCIA Police Chief John Hyland, their was a constant education effort to get flyers to comply with the mask mandate.
"I think everybody had their opinion. But I think they understood that in order to get on an airplane they had to have it on," Hyland said. "And so there was some early, maybe, miscommunication but for the large part most people complied."
Elsy Borgstedte, Director of Aviation for CCIA said that while wearing a mask is no longer required, flyers are allowed to continue wearing one if they see fit.
"Passengers are always encouraged, and personal preference as to wearing a mask but it's no longer required," Borgstedte said.
While some flyers were relieved not to have to wear a mask anymore, some travelers said they'd keep wearing one.
"I personally will still wear the mask on the flight," said one area traveler. "But in the airport I think it's a lot easier to get around, breathing, and all of that. So I'm kind of happy about it."
Major airlines have dropped their mask requirement after the ruling. American, United, Alaska, Delta and Southwest Airlines have all announced they are ending the mask requirement.
Frontier Airlines, Allegiant Air, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue have yet to comment on the policy change, and their websites still indicate that masks are required as per the now-defunct mandate.
The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority also said Tuesday that masks will be optional on their transportation system.
The CDC says on its website that the order requiring masks on public transportation and at transportation hubs such as airports is no longer in effect as of April 18, 2022. Though the CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks indoors, the public health agency will not enforce the mandate.
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