A decision by a federal judge in Florida to throw out a national mask mandate for public transportation across the U.S. created a confusing patchwork of rules for passengers as they navigate airports and transit systems.
The ruling gives airports, mass transit systems, airlines and ride-hailing services the option to keep mask rules or ditch them entirely, resulting in rules that vary by city and mode of transportation.
Passengers on CTA trains and buses no longer need to wear a mask. Metra on Tuesday afternoon also went mask-optional.
Also, rideshare companies Lyft and Uber and numerous airlines flying into O'Hare and Midway airports will no longer have a mask requirement.
Below is a detailed list of local public transportation divisions' current stance on mask wearing:
Chicago and suburbs
CTA trains and buses -- not required
Metra -- not required
Pace -- not required
Midway and O'Hare -- not required
Rideshare
Lyft, Uber -- not required
Uber- NOT required
Related
Planes
Southwest Airlines- NOT required- for passengers and employees
American Airlines- NOT required- for customers and employees at US airports and on domestic flights.
Delta Airlines- NOT required- for passengers in US airports and onboard airplanes
United Airlines- NOT required- on domestic flights, on select international flights, or at US airports.
Alaska Air- NOT required- in US airports and on aircraft
JetBlue- NOT required- in airport terminals and onboard planes
Frontier- NOT required- for passengers and employees in the US. For international travel, the requirements depend on the arrival and departure countries’ regulations.
Trains
Amtrak- NOT required
Related
