People wearing mandatory masks wait at their gate using physical distancing at Toronto's Pearson International Airport on June 23, 2020.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says mask mandates for air travel remain firmly in place, even as major airlines south of the border drop the requirement for passengers and crews.
On Monday, a federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on planes and mass transit, prompting all seven of America’s largest airlines to repeal rules that customers and staff wear face coverings, effective immediately.
Some specified that masks remain mandatory for certain international flights or locations, depending on local protocols.
Trudeau and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra reiterated separately on Tuesday that masks are still required on all flights that arrive in or depart from Canada.
Canadian airlines confirmed their mask requirements remain in place, though WestJet said the change down south “highlights the need for harmonization … across borders to eliminate confusion” for customers.
Air Canada said that while mask rules are still in force, measures abroad are being “safely lifted” for a range of activities and that Canadian policies should align with other fields and jurisdictions.
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