Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told a U.S. Senate panel that masks don't add much, if anything in fighting the spread of COVID- 19 on airplanes, calling into question the reasoning behind mask mandates on flights imposed by airlines and the Biden administration.
Kelly made a statement during a hearing on airline oversight before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and other industry chiefs. He said that commercial aircraft filtration systems make them the safest indoor space there is.
Ranking member Roger Wicker, R-Miss. When asked the CEOs about air quality on planes, we were asked, Will we ever be able to get on an airplane without masks? Kelly said in a statement on air quality, the statistics I recall are that 99.97% of airborne pathogens are captured by the high efficiency particulate air filtering system, and it is turned over every two or three minutes. Kelly said the case is very strong that masks don't add much, if anything, to the air cabin environment. It's very safe, and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting. Wicker asked for a response from American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, who replied, I concur. The aircraft is the safest place in the world, and it is true of all of our aircraft. They all have these HEPA filters and the same airflow. According to Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, air quality is safer than an intensive care unit, because being next to someone sitting next to them is an equivalent of being 15 feet away from them in a typical building, according to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. Most places in the U.S. don't require masks indoors, except for certain Democrat-controlled jurisdictions and areas under federal oversight.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, airlines imposed mask requirements on their own in 2020, and several welcomed President Biden's federal mandate for wearing masks on commercial flights after he took office. The federal rule was due to expire in September, but the Transportation Security Administration extended it through January 18.
The mask requirements have caused a lot of problems for airlines in the way of compliance, with mask violations being the main cause of an increase in unruly behavior from passengers. The FAA has upped the fines on violations for fliers who disrupt air travel and urged airlines to take more action on unruly passenger incidents.
Airlines haven't pushed back publicly against the mandate.
Southwest Airlines continues to adhere to the federal mask mandate for customers and employees in the airport environment, and onboard all Southwest aircraft when asked for further explanation on Kelly's comments by FOX Business.