During a US Senate Committee hearing with lawmakers, the contentious mask mandate was discussed. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said ‘masks don’t add much if anything in the air cabin environment, ‘which was a view apparently echoed by American Airlines CEO Doug Parker.
The Airline CEOs’ were slammed for suggesting masks are unnecessary on fights.
“I’m shocked that some of the CEOs here today have suggested that we no longer need mask mandates on planes. Children under five still cannot be vaccinated and we still allow unvaccinated people on planes to fly in our country.” Said Senator Ed Markey
“Frankly, it is so troubling that I don’t know where to begin,” said Dr. Kavita Patel, who was an advisor in the Obama administration.
“If there is one thing that is crystal clear, it is that this is an airborne virus and there is very little doubt that masks play a significant role in reducing transmission.”
Following a backlash, Doug Parker took to social media to clarify his comments.
“We support the federal mask mandate. Full stop,” Parker said.
Meanwhile …
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said governments should make vaccination mandatory for air travel. The controversial airline boss said restrictions should be placed on the unvaccinated.
In an interview with The Times published at the weekend, O’Leary criticized the “lunatic fringes” who think the pandemic is a conspiracy and condemned the “mass hysteria” over the Omicron variant which he said is being driven by Downing Street.
Of those who have not yet been vaccinated, O’Leary said, “I have no difficulty saying to people, you can fly, but you have to be vaccinated.
“We fully respect your right to be not vaccinated if you are one of the lunatic fringes who believe this is some government, big pharma conspiracy.
“But if you are not vaccinated, you can’t go to the supermarket, you can’t go to the pharmacy. You shouldn’t be allowed into hospital if you’re not vaccinated.”
“If you tell someone under 30 years of age that they cannot get into a pub they’d get vaccinated pretty damn quickly.” Said the Ryanair CEO.
“But governments should place increasing restrictions (on the unvaccinated), while recognising the rights of everybody. If you want to be unvaccinated, that’s fine, but we should increasingly not allow those to go to work, to travel on the Underground, to fly, to go to the supermarket, to go to pharmacies.”