St. Louis Airport: Masks Still Required?

As of April 19, 2022, St. Louis Lambert International Airport no longer requires travellers to wear masks. This follows a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball, which voided the Biden administration's mask mandate for public transportation. While masks are no longer mandatory at the airport, individual airlines may still enforce their own mask rules, so travellers are advised to check with their airline before travelling. Masks are also encouraged, but not required, on mass transit in the St. Louis region.

St. Louis Lambert International Airport no longer requires masks

St. Louis Lambert International Airport no longer requires travellers, visitors, or employees to wear masks. This follows a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball in Florida on April 18, 2022, which voided the Biden administration's mask mandate for public transportation. The ruling gives airports the option to keep mask rules or remove them entirely, resulting in rules that vary by city and mode of transportation.

While St. Louis Lambert International Airport has chosen to lift the mandate, it is encouraging passengers to check with their airlines and destinations for any rules that may still be in place. Several U.S. airlines, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue, have announced that masks are now optional on their aircraft.

The decision by the federal judge in Florida has created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers as they navigate airports and transit systems. Prior to the ruling, the mandate had been in place since January 2021 and was recently extended for another 15 days to allow the CDC more time to study the latest coronavirus variant.

It is important to note that while the airport no longer requires masks, individuals may still choose to wear them voluntarily. Masks are still encouraged but not required for mass transit in the St. Louis region. Metro Transit, for example, is requiring passengers on buses to wear face coverings during their entire trip, with some exceptions for young children and customers with breathing difficulties or other special circumstances.

Masks are still encouraged but not required for mass transit in St. Louis

As of April 19, 2022, St. Louis Lambert International Airport no longer requires travellers, visitors, or employees to wear masks. This follows a ruling by a federal judge in Florida, which voided the Biden administration's mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S.

While masks are no longer required at St. Louis Airport, passengers are still encouraged to wear them voluntarily. In addition, travellers are advised to check with their specific airline and destination for any rules regarding masks that may still be in place.

As of June 5, 2022, Metro Transit in St. Louis started requiring passengers on buses to wear face coverings for the duration of their trip. This includes non-medical masks, scarves, handkerchiefs, and other types of cloth coverings. Children aged two and under are exempt from this requirement, as are customers who have trouble breathing or are otherwise unable to remove the covering without assistance.

Therefore, while masks are no longer mandated at St. Louis Airport, they are still encouraged, and other forms of mass transit in the region, such as buses, may have their own mask requirements. It is important for travellers to stay informed about the latest guidelines and recommendations to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Airlines may still require masks, so check with your airline

As of April 19, 2022, St. Louis Lambert International Airport no longer requires passengers, visitors, or employees to wear masks. This change was due to a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball, which voided the Biden administration's mask mandate for public transportation.

However, it's important to note that individual airlines may still have their own mask policies in place. Therefore, if you're traveling through St. Louis Airport, it's recommended to check with your specific airline to determine their mask requirements before your trip. Each airline will have its own set of guidelines, and it's essential to be aware of their expectations.

For example, some airlines may still strongly encourage or require masks to be worn during the flight, especially if you are traveling with young children or individuals who are at high risk for respiratory infections. Additionally, certain airlines might have specific rules regarding the type of mask allowed, such as medical-grade masks or N95 respirators.

Furthermore, it's worth considering that the landscape of mask mandates can be fluid, and policies can change rapidly. Stay informed by regularly checking the websites of your airline and St. Louis Airport for the most up-to-date information. This will ensure that you're prepared and able to adhere to any mask requirements that may be in place during your travel.

While the airport itself may not enforce mask-wearing, it is always a good idea to carry a mask with you. This way, you are prepared for any situation where a mask might be required or if you find yourself in a crowded area and feel more comfortable with a mask on.

The ruling gives airports the option to keep or remove mask rules

In April 2022, a federal judge in Florida threw out a national mask mandate for public transportation across the US, giving airports, mass transit systems, airlines, and ride-hailing services the option to enforce or remove mask rules. This decision has created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers navigating airports and transit systems, with rules varying by city and mode of transportation.

Some airports, such as the two main airports in Houston, Los Angeles International, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, were quick to remove their mask requirements. However, others, including San Francisco International Airport, expressed uncertainty about the ruling and took a wait-and-see approach, awaiting further guidance from the TSA. New York City airports also initially left mask mandates in place, with the exception of Newark Liberty International Airport, where masks became optional.

The ruling has resulted in a domino effect, with airlines and other transportation services now having the flexibility to decide their own mask policies. For example, ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber announced that masks would be optional for riders and drivers, and Alaska Airlines stated that some passengers who were banned for violating the mask policy would remain banned.

While the federal transportation mask mandate is no longer in effect, the CDC continues to recommend that individuals aged 2 years and older wear masks in indoor areas of public transportation, including airports, and transportation hubs. The Supreme Court has ruled that the TSA acted within its authority when it required masks to be worn on airplanes and in US airports during the pandemic.

The mandate was removed due to a federal judge's ruling in Florida

On April 19, 2022, St. Louis Lambert International Airport announced that it would no longer enforce face mask requirements for customers and employees. This update followed a federal judge's ruling in Florida, which struck down the national mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S. The ruling, made by United States District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had overstepped its authority and failed to follow proper rule-making procedures.

The decision created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers as they navigated airports and transit systems. The ruling gave airports, mass transit systems, airlines, and ride-hailing services the option to keep mask rules or remove them entirely, resulting in varying regulations depending on the city and mode of transportation. For instance, passengers on a United Airlines flight from Houston to New York could choose to not wear masks during their flight but would need to put them back on once they arrived in New York.

Major airlines were among the first to update their rules after the court decision. Airlines such as United, Southwest, American, Alaska, Delta, and JetBlue announced that masks would no longer be mandatory on domestic flights. While these updates meant that employees and passengers were no longer required to wear masks, many chose to continue doing so voluntarily, as the CDC continued to recommend mask-wearing on public transit.

The Association of Flight Attendants, the nation's largest union of cabin crews, adopted a neutral position on masks due to the divided opinions of its members. The union's president appealed for calm in airports and on planes during this transition. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its intention to appeal the ruling, arguing that the CDC had exceeded its authority. Critics of the judge's decision pointed out legal and factual errors, but most agreed that it was not unconstitutional.

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