In travel news for April 13, 2022 we have an update on the federal Mask Mandate for Air Travel, schedule updates from JetBlue and Alaskan Airlines, and new routes from SouthWest Airlines.
We’ve discussed previously about the federal requirement to wear masks on public transportation which includes Air Travel. The mandate was last scheduled to expire on March 18, it was then extended for one month to April 18. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have announced another extension to the Mask Mandate, this time for 2 weeks. The CDC is worried about another new highly transmissible COVID variant. The organization wanted to extend the mandate by 2 weeks to allow more time to see how the newest variant will affect hospitalizations and deaths. There is a growing push to end COVID pandemic travel measures, including the mask mandates on public transpiration. Those advocating for an elimination of these travel measures include numerous travel associations, the CEO’s of major airlines including American, Delta, United, and South West, and even the United States Senate. We will continue to provide updates as they occur.
In response to the recent cancellations JetBlue has announced that they will be scaling their summer flight schedules due to staffing shortages. JetBlue had previously cut their schedule for May by about 10% and now will continue to decrease the number of flights throughout the summer months. This follows two weekends in a row where airlines experienced a high number of cancellations JetBlue isn’t alone, Alaskan Airlines is also cutting the number of flights by about 2% over the next few months in anticipation of continued staffing shortages.
SouthWest Airlines has recently announced that they will be expanding the number of routes, include new service between two popular Hawaiian islands. Starting in early June the airlines will fly a new route between Maui and Kauai, this is in addition to the routes SouthWest currently fly's between the Hawaiian Islands. South West will also be expanding their west coast routes, adding a new route between San Jose, California and Eugene Oregon and between Sacramento, California and Santa Barbara, California. South west will also be increasing the frequency it fly's various routes within California.