Airline CEOs: Masks On Planes Don't Help Much

Above, yours truly at the Albuquerque Sunport waiting for the
flight to Dallas Love Field to board. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

The CEOs of Southwest and American Airlines questioned the usage of masks during flights during a senate hearing.

It is interesting to note that I flew on both planes during the past two years of the pandemic, American to Las Vegas and Southwest to Dallas/Fort Worth. I remember that we were packed like sardines aboard the American flight while Southwest had passenger seating spaced out for social distancing. We had to wear masks during both trips the whole time while on board.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported:

The CEOs of two of the nation’s major airlines say they don’t think wearing masks on planes does much to help limit exposure to Covid.

The comments from American Airlines CEO Doug Parker — the nation’s largest carrier — and Southwest CEO Gary Kelly came during a hearing about the financial support that airlines received from the federal government in 2020 and 2021. But the topic of masks arose via a question from Sen. Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican on the Senate committee holding the hearing.

“I think the case is very strong that masks don’t add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment. It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting,” said Kelly.

Both Kelly and Parker mentioned that high-grade HEPA air filters on planes capture virtually all airborne contamination and air quality is helped by how frequently cabin air is exchanged with fresh air from outside the cabin.

The article also noted that Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants, testified that not all planes are equipped with HEPA air filters.

To me, masks offer as much protection as a chain-link fence does to keep mosquitoes out of a yard. My cardiologist agrees.

To read the full article, go here.