Two major US airlines, United Airlines Holdings and Alaska Air Group, said Monday they’ll no longer require travelers or employees to wear face coverings on domestic and some international flights. The decisions came hours after a US judge overturned a federal mandate for passengers to cover their faces on board airplanes and trains. United said its employees may continue to wear masks “if they choose to do so.” The airlines said they also will not require the use of masks at boarding gates or elsewhere in airports. Earlier this month US airlines had asked the Biden administration to end its masking requirement for public transport. But last week the CDC extended the ban until May 3.<br/>
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Air Canada flew more than 100,000 passengers in one day for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, another sign that the airline's recovery is underway as travel demand returns. The Montreal-based airline said Monday that it flew 100,701 customers on April 15. The last time Air Canada carried more than 100,000 passengers on its planes in a single day was on March 13, 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and governments closed borders, introduced unprecedented travel restrictions and airlines dramatically cut capacity. "Clearly there is pent-up demand for travel that is matched only by our enthusiasm to welcome back our customers," said Kevin O'Connor, Air Canada's vice-president of systems operations. "It is also significant that we passed this milestone smoothly, indicating Air Canada has recovered operationally from COVID-19's effects and is prepared to safely and conveniently transport customers during the busy summer ahead."<br/>