The September deadline for the airline mask mandate expires. Some in the industry agree with this, but others believe it should be extended. gettyThe mandate to remove the masks from airline passengers is set to expire September 13, 2021. This mandate has led to an increase in incidents on board that have caused harm to flight attendants, delayed or cancelled flights and displayed some of the worst aspects of society.Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines, stated in July that the U.S. airlines wanted the mandate to end. Some risks would be eliminated, mainly from onboard aggression, and people will continue to view the policy application as inconsistent and unfair, according to some within the airline industry. It makes sense for some to end the mandate as planned in September, given the safe environment in an aircraft cabin and the upcoming drop in travel.The rapid spread of the Delta coronavirus variant is forcing everyone to rethink their next steps. Airlines For America has not taken a public position and the federal government may consider expanding the mask mandate for airplanes if the Delta variant is deemed too dangerous.Airplanes Are Safer Than Most PlacesIt is now well-known that airplane air flows vertically, and is replaced by fresh outside air every few seconds. This is why many studies have shown that viruses are rare onboard planes. It is also the reason that plane advocates for dropping the mask mandate. However, the Delta variant's higher rate of contagion will cast doubt on this view. The risk of the original virus spreading to others is increased if the mask mandate is not renewed.Flying can bring out your emotions.Many flyers find flying stressful. People who are used to having a lot of control over their lives must give up that control and learn to adapt. This is not something that everyone can do well. This atmosphere combined with tensions over mask policy has resulted in a summer that saw more onboard skirmishes than ever and more people being injured. Although the FAA suggested large fines in certain cases, these cases will likely take years through the courts and be dropped or settled for pennies per dollar. While the fines may make headlines and deter bad behavior, the main cause of many of these incidents is the mandated mask policy. It is not the policy, it's the inconsistent application of that policy to other areas of life. Many of us can understand why we need to wear a mask when traveling, but not in restaurants. But this doesn't make sense to others. This summer, we were not surprised to see the effects of the stress and emotional atmosphere on an airline flight.Many flight attendants are vaccinatedThe abuse by passengers is often perpetrated by flight attendants. National unions of flight attendants supported the original mask mandate and its extension to September. This is understandable. However, the summer vaccines continue and 70% of Americans have received at least one shot. United Airlines now requires all employees to have vaccinated. It is reasonable to assume that flight attendants will be more vaccinated then the general population. The mandate could be canceled as travel decreases in fall. This would reduce tensions and reduce potential dangers for flight attendants.There are also health risks for passengers and others who come in contact with them after they return from their trip.It has been a big step forward that vaccines are being distributed in large numbers in Europe and the U.S. Nearly all deaths from Covid today are caused by people who chose not to get vaccinated.Research suggests that the delta variant of coronavirus is more contagious than any previous versions. It may be 40%-60% more transmissible to others than the alpha variant, and twice as infectious as the original Wuhan strain. Research has shown that infected people are just as likely to spread the virus to their friends and family as those who have not been vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control recommended last week that people who are vaccinated wear masks in areas where it is rapidly spreading, which is the majority of the U.S.Many cities and businesses have taken steps to restore mask mandates. This may make it less likely for the federal government to let the mask mandate on planes lapse.Management of risk does not necessarily mean eliminating it. Management of risk is about minimizing the most serious risks and finding a balance between all types of risk. Onboard transmission and inflight incidents would not be possible if it were illegal to fly. However, the social cost of this is much greater than the risk of having onboard incidents. Similar to the above, we know that mask mandates upset enough customers to make it difficult for airlines and flight attendants to fly this summer. We also know that the number of people who are vaccinated is increasing each day and that seasonally travel will drop once September hits. These balancing forces will make it difficult to decide whether to let the mandate expire or extend it. The answer in both cases is clear: Get more people vaccinated.
