Airline executives have been lobbying for an end to the mask mandate on airplanes as most states have rolled back their masking requirements for indoor settings.
United Airlines said its mask requirement has now been dropped:
"Following the ruling of a U.S. district court judge on Monday, April 18, the Biden Administration announced that the Transportation Security Administration will no longer enforce the federal mandate requiring masks in all U.S. airports and on board aircraft. Effective immediately, masks are optional for all airport employees, crew members and customers inside U.S. airports and on board all aircraft domestically, as well as on most international flights.
"Local mask mandates in other countries may still be in effect. Additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available. "We appreciate the cooperation and compliance efforts of our Customers and Employees as policies have evolved. We'll continue to monitor public health guidance, and federal requirements, while always keeping safety as our uncompromising priority."
Before the airlines' announcements, CBS 2's Charlie De Mar spoke to CBS News travel expert Peter Greenberg about what the ruling will mean for travelers. But after the announcement that the TSA would not be enforcing the mask mandate anymore, Amtrak changed its position: