Masks At Phoenix Airport: What's The Mandate?

As of April 18, 2022, masks are no longer required at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. This change came about when a federal judge voided the national mask mandate, giving airports, airlines, and ride-hailing services the option to keep or remove mask rules. Previously, masks were required at the airport, with the mandate extending to employees and anyone entering public airport facilities, including terminals, the Rental Car Center, the PHX Sky Train, and airport buses.

Masks were required at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport until April 2022

On 18 April 2022, a federal judge voided the national mask mandate for airplanes and other public transportation, ruling that it exceeded the authority of US health officials. This ruling applied to all public transportation, including buses, planes, and trains. As a result, masks were no longer required at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport or on flights departing from the airport.

Prior to this ruling, masks had been required at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport since June 1, 2020. The requirement extended to employees and anyone else entering public airport facilities, including terminals, the Rental Car Center, the PHX Sky Train, and airport buses. Face coverings were mandated as part of the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. The airport's website specified that the face covering did not have to be a commercially purchased mask; a homemade cloth mask or bandanna was also acceptable, as long as it covered the nose and mouth of the wearer.

After the federal judge's ruling, several airlines announced that masks would now be optional for employees and customers, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. However, some airlines noted that masks might still be required for certain international flights, depending on the country's requirements.

While the national mask mandate was no longer in effect as of April 2022, it's important to note that individual cities and transit agencies could still choose to maintain their own mask requirements. For example, New York's Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would continue to require masks on public transportation within the state, following the latest state Department of Health guidance and CDC recommendations.

Masks were required on public transport, including airport buses and the light rail

As of April 18, 2022, masks are no longer required on public transport in Phoenix, including airport buses and the light rail. This is because a federal judge voided the national mask mandate, ruling that it exceeded the authority of US health officials.

Prior to this, masks were required on public transport in Phoenix, including at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, on buses, and on the light rail. This was due to the fact that the aviation and public transportation departments had to follow federal requirements.

On June 1, 2020, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport mandated that anyone entering public airport facilities, including terminals, the Rental Car Center, the PHX Sky Train, and airport buses, must wear a mask or face covering. This rule applied to employees and visitors alike. The airport's website stated that the face covering could be a homemade cloth mask or bandanna, as long as it covered the nose and mouth of the wearer.

Now, masks are no longer required on public transport in Phoenix, and travelers have the option to wear masks at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. However, the CDC still strongly recommends wearing masks indoors.

The Phoenix emergency declaration is still in place

As of April 18, 2022, masks are no longer required on planes or at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. However, the Phoenix emergency declaration due to COVID-19 is still in place.

On March 20, 2020, Phoenix leaders declared a local emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This declaration gave Mayor Kate Gallego and the City Council members more power to address public health and safety. As a result, council meetings and other important city meetings have been held virtually for two years. Additionally, appointments are still required to conduct business at City Hall and the Calvin Goode municipal building, and masks have not been required at city facilities since February 28, 2022, when Maricopa County dropped to moderate transmission levels.

While the Phoenix emergency declaration remains in place, the requirement to wear masks at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and on public transportation has been lifted. This change is due to a federal judge voiding the national mask mandate as exceeding the authority of US health officials. It is important to note that individual airlines and airports may still have their own mask policies in place, so it is recommended to check before travelling.

The Phoenix emergency declaration has been in place for over two years, and there is currently no estimated date for when it will be lifted. A Phoenix spokesperson stated that the city has evolved its COVID protocols over the last two years, using transmission rates and CDC guidelines to protect the health of employees and community members. Given the unpredictability of COVID transmission rates, which continue to impact the community, the emergency declaration will remain in place until further notice.

Masks were not required in Phoenix facilities, including City Hall

As of April 18, 2022, masks are no longer required at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport or on flights, as a federal judge voided the national mask mandate. However, this ruling has created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers, as some airports and transit systems have kept mask requirements in place, while others have done away with them entirely.

Prior to this ruling, masks were required at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, with the requirement extending to employees and anyone else entering public airport facilities, including terminals, the Rental Car Center, the PHX Sky Train, and airport buses. This was in line with major airlines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and other large airports across the country.

While the mask mandate is no longer in place at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, masks were not required in Phoenix facilities, including City Hall, as of February 28, 2022. This change occurred when Maricopa County dropped to moderate transmission levels. However, the emergency declaration in Phoenix due to COVID-19 remained in place, with the city evolving its COVID protocols based on transmission rates and CDC guidelines.

The decision to remove the mask mandate at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and on flights was made by several major airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines. These airlines now give employees and customers the option to wear a mask, encouraging individuals to make the best decision for their well-being. However, it is important to note that masks may still be required on certain international flights, depending on the country's requirements.

The federal judge voided the national mask mandate

As of April 18, 2022, masks are no longer required at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. This follows a ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, who voided the national mask mandate for airplanes and other public transportation. In her ruling, Judge Mizelle stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) exceeded its authority and failed to follow proper rulemaking procedures by enacting the mandate. The decision was made on Monday, April 18, 2022, and promptly led to U.S. airlines and other transportation hubs dropping their mask mandates.

Judge Mizelle, a Trump appointee, wrote in a 59-page ruling that the only remedy was to vacate the rule entirely. She argued that the CDC had improperly failed to justify its decision and that it would be impossible to end the mandate for only the limited group of people who objected to it in the lawsuit. The ruling stated that "our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends," and thus the court vacated the mask mandate.

The CDC had recently extended the mask mandate until May 3, 2022, to allow for more time to study the BA.2 omicron subvariant of the coronavirus. The mandate for travelers had been the target of lobbying from airlines and Republicans in Congress, who argued that modern planes' effective air filters made transmission highly unlikely. However, critics pointed out that COVID-19 cases had fallen sharply since the omicron variant's peak, despite states rolling back mask rules in restaurants, stores, and other indoor settings.

The federal judge's ruling has elicited mixed responses from travelers and concern from experts. While some travelers may welcome the change, others may feel hesitant or unsafe, especially with the ongoing threat of new coronavirus variants. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has stated that it will appeal the decision, citing the CDC's determination that wearing a mask "remains necessary to protect public health."

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