Mask mandate likely to be extended, US flight attendants say

The largest union representing US flight attendants expects a federal order mandating face masks for air passengers and other travelers will be extended again, even as a growing number of states and businesses lift restrictions. The requirement is set to expire March 18 after being extended three times since it first was imposed in February 2021 as a way to stem the spread of Covid-19. Masks have been a political lightning rod and contributed to a surge in unruly airline passenger incidents over the past 12 months, according to the FAA. Of 5,981 onboard disputes last year, 72% were related to masks, FAA statistics show. “We have every expectation that the mask mandate will be extended for the near term,” the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said in an emailed statement. “The conditions in aviation are the same. Our youngest passengers do not yet have access to the vaccine.” As infections decline, some states and businesses are opting to drop indoor mask requirements. California, New Jersey, Nevada and Illinois are among states ending such mandates, along with businesses including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Walt Disney Co. is also ditching a face-covering requirement for fully vaccinated guests at its US theme parks. It’s unclear when a decision about the federal mask requirement will be announced. The prior extensions were announced a few weeks ahead of the expiration date. The current deadline of March 18 falls during spring break for many schools and universities across the US, and a change in policy then could cause confusion or disruption during the historically busy travel period.<br/>