Travelers' Alert: Masks Still Required At Nashville Airport

As of April 2022, masks are no longer required at Nashville International Airport, although some airlines may still require them on planes. This change came about due to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Florida, who deemed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit unlawful. The CDC had recently extended the mandate to May 3, 2022, but Judge Mizelle's ruling voided that extension. While the Justice Department is filing an appeal, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is no longer enforcing masks on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Nashville's public transit system, WeGo, has also lifted its mask requirement.

Masks were required at Nashville Airport until April 2022

Masks were required at Nashville International Airport until April 2022. The mandate was enforced by the airport due to federal guidelines, even after the mandate had expired in Davidson County. In a statement, the airport welcomed the news of the relaxed mandate in the county but maintained that masks were still required inside the terminal, on commercial aircraft, and on parking shuttles.

The mandate for Nashville and Davidson County ended in May 2014, but the airport continued to enforce the mask mandate due to federal guidelines. This was in line with the CDC's extension of the federal transit mask mandate to May 3.

However, in April 2022, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Florida, a Trump appointee, ruled that the CDC's national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit was unlawful. This ruling led to the end of the mask mandate at Nashville International Airport. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is no longer requiring masks on public transportation and in transportation hubs due to the judge's ruling.

While masks are no longer mandated at the airport, some airlines may still require them on planes. The CDC still recommends that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings. Nashville's public transit system, WeGo, has also lifted its mask requirement for employees and passengers in WeGo buses, vans, trains, and transit facilities.

Masks are still welcomed at the airport

As of April 2022, masks are no longer required for travellers at Nashville International Airport. However, masks are still welcomed at the airport, and anyone needing or choosing to wear one is encouraged to do so.

This change came about due to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Florida, who stated that the national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit was unlawful, thus exceeding the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC had recently extended the federal transit mask mandate to May 3, but the judge's ruling voided that extension.

While masks are no longer required at the airport, travellers are still encouraged to check with their respective airlines regarding specific requirements, as some airlines may still mandate masks on planes.

Additionally, there are several places in Nashville where masks are still required, such as major healthcare facilities, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center and HCA Healthcare facilities.

It is important to note that the CDC still recommends that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings, even if they are not mandated. This recommendation is in place to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus and protect public health.

Airlines may still require masks on planes

As of April 2022, masks are no longer required at Nashville International Airport. This change came about due to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Florida, who deemed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit unlawful. The CDC had recently extended the mandate to May 3, 2022, to allow for further study of the latest coronavirus variant. However, Judge Mizelle's ruling voided that extension.

While masks are no longer mandated at the airport, it is important to note that individual airlines may still have their own mask requirements in place. A spokesperson for the airport advised travellers to check with their respective airlines regarding specific mask policies. Some major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, and JetBlue, have lifted their mask mandates following the judge's ruling.

The CDC still recommends that individuals wear masks in indoor public transportation settings. Nashville's public transit system, WeGo, has also lifted its mask requirement for employees and passengers in buses, vans, trains, and transit facilities. They encourage anyone needing or choosing to wear a mask to continue doing so.

It is worth noting that the Justice Department is filing an appeal to overturn Judge Mizelle's order. Therefore, travellers are advised to stay updated with the latest guidelines and check with their airlines before their journey.

The mandate was dropped after a federal ruling

In May 2021, masks were still required for travellers at Nashville International Airport, despite the mandate having expired in Davidson County. The airport said that while the news that Mayor John Cooper was relaxing the mandate was "great news", masks were still required inside the terminal, on commercial aircraft, and on parking shuttles.

However, the mandate was dropped after a federal ruling in April 2022. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Florida—a Trump appointee—ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit was unlawful. The CDC had recently extended the mandate to May 3, but the judge's ruling voided that extension.

Following the ruling, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was no longer requiring masks on public transportation and in transportation hubs. As a result, travellers at Nashville International Airport were no longer required to wear masks. A spokesperson for the airport did note, however, that individual airlines might still require masks on planes.

While the mandate was dropped at Nashville International Airport, masks were still recommended by the CDC in indoor public transportation settings. Additionally, masks were still required in most major healthcare facilities in Nashville, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center and HCA Healthcare facilities.

The mandate was in place since January 2021

As of April 2022, masks were still required for travellers at Nashville International Airport, even after the mandate had expired in Davidson County. This was due to federal guidelines, which stated that masks were still required for everyone inside the terminal, on commercial aircraft, and on parking shuttles. However, as of September 2022, masks are no longer required at Nashville International Airport. This change came after U.S. District Judge Kathryn Mizelle of Florida ruled that the mandate exceeded the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The mandate had been in place since January 2021 and was extended for another 15 days in 2022 to allow the CDC more time to study the latest coronavirus variant. The judge's ruling voided that extension.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is no longer requiring masks on public transportation and in transportation hubs due to the Florida judge’s ruling. In response to the ruling, many major airlines have lifted their mask requirements, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, and JetBlue. However, some airlines may still require masks on planes, so travellers are encouraged to check with their respective carriers regarding specific requirements.

While the mask mandate has been lifted at Nashville International Airport, there are still places in Nashville where masks are required, such as in most major healthcare facilities. The CDC still recommends that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.

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