Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines will
require passengers to wear masks onboard in the coming weeks.
Delta's requirement begins 4 May. Passengers will be
required to wear face coverings in check-in areas, Delta Sky Clubs, boarding
gate areas, jet bridges, and on board throughout the flight except when meals
are being served.
American's face covering requirement for passengers begins 11
May. Earlier this week the carrier said it would begin distributing facemasks
as well as sanitising wipes or gels to passengers in early May, but SVP of
customer experience Kurt Stache said passengers should bring their own masks or
face coverings that fit them comfortably. "American is working to procure
facemasks and hand sanitiser as a supplement," according to Stache.
Delta also said it would have supplies for passengers who
need them, though it encouraged passengers to bring their own.
United Airlines said that it "will also make face
coverings mandatory for all travellers" effective 4 May, and will provide
them to customers if necessary.
Both Delta and American, along with United Airlines,
announced face covering requirements for flight attendants earlier this week.
Jetblue and Lufthansa also both announced mask requirements for passengers this
week.
American is planning to resume services from the US to
London this summer. It plans to resume its Chicago-Heathrow route with five
flights a week, followed by JFK-Heathrow with two flights a week starting 7
June. Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Raleigh-Durham flights are due to begin on
7 July.