U.S. will no longer enforce mask mandate on airplanes, trains after court ruling

Travellers wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) reclaim their luggage at the airport in Denver, Colorado, U.S., November 24, 2020. [Reuters]

The Biden administration will no longer enforce a U.S. mask mandate on public transportation, after a federal judge in Florida on Monday ruled that the 14-month-old directive was unlawful, overturning a key White House effort to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Soon after the announcement, all major carriers including American Airlines AAL.O, United Airlines UAL.O and Delta Air Lines DAL.N, as well as national train line Amtrak relaxed the restrictions effective immediately.