In travel news for April 21, 2022 we have good news for those that use WIFI during Air Travel, and air travel mask updates from Canada and the United States.
Delta Airlines Partners with SpaceX
Good news for travelers wanting better internet connections while they fly. Delta Airlines is working with SpaceX to test StarLink onboard their flights. For those of you unaware, Starlink is a program where SpaceX is putting a lot of small satellites into low earth orbit, these sattelies will act as sort of an internet in space, routing traffic around then back to earth. By blanketing the sky with satellites the hope is that users of Starlink will have fast, low latency internet anywhere in the world. This service pairs really well with Air Travel. Currently the Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX to test Starlink for aircraft use and the CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk has said previously that they were working to get Starling certified for the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. We will continue to share information as it becomes available.
Canada Reaffirms Mask Mandate for Air Travel
With the recent ruling by a federal judge in the United States, overturning the Mask Mandate for Air Travel, our neighbor to the north, Canada has announced that they will still be requiring masks on planes and in airports. Masks will be required for all flights leaving, or arriving in Canada. There is no word yet on when the mandate could be removed.
U.S. Justice Department Challenges Mask Mandate Ruling
We’ve previously talked about a federal judges order that nullified the federal Mask Mandate for public transportation, which includes Air Travel. This ruling was made on Monday, and on Wednesday the Justice Department, at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, filed an appeal to overturn the ruling. So far the Biden Administration hasn’t asked for the appeals court to grant an emergency stay. If they do so, and it’s granted, then masks will return for public transportation until the appeal is ruled on, or the CDC decides the mandate is no longer necessary. Before the ruling the mask mandate was set to expire on Monday, May 3, however the CDC could have extended it further. So, for right now, the U.S. Government is not requiring that masks be worn for air travel. However, airports and airlines can still require that masks be worn. Especially if required by the country that the flight is leaving from or arriving to.