Airlines for America (A4A) officials said the organization’s carriers would voluntarily require customer-facing employees and passengers to wear a cloth face covering over their nose and mouth throughout the journey.
The A4A said the policy, which carriers are working to implement as quickly as possible, would apply during check-in, boarding, in-flight, and deplaning.
A4A officials noted the safety and wellbeing of all passengers is the top priority of domestic airlines. The voluntary requirement of cloth face coverings during air travel is just one of the ways carriers are working to protect passengers and employees throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization’s member airlines all meet or exceed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and have implemented intensive cleaning protocols – including in some cases implementing electrostatic cleaning and fogging procedures.
Carriers are working continuously to sanitize cockpits, cabins, and key touchpoints, such as tray tables, armrests, seatbelts, buttons, vents, handles, and lavatories, using CDC-approved disinfectants.
A4A said carriers have implemented a range of policies, including back-to-front boarding and food and beverage service adjustments, as a means of ensuring passenger and crew safety.
All travelers are encouraged to follow CDC guidance, including frequent hand-washing and staying home when ill. Anyone seeking information regarding how domestic airlines are responding to COVID-19 is asked to visit www.AirlinesTakeAction.com.