Congressman Cohen Urges Nation’s Largest Airlines to Follow JetBlue’s Lead in Requiring Face Masks

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure's Subcommittee on Aviation, today wrote to Delta, American, United and Southwest Airlines urging them to require face masks for all passengers and crews "for the foreseeable future as we continue to combat this global health pandemic."

In a separate letter, Congressman Cohen thanked and congratulated JetBlue Airways for its critically necessary decision to implement a policy of requiring face masks for passengers and crew.

In his letter to the nation's four largest airlines, Congressman Cohen wrote:

"While I am aware that your airlines have taken various steps to require flight attendants to wear face masks or to ensure that there are enhanced cleaning procedures on airplanes, I believe that the nation's four largest airlines have a responsibility to take every action necessary to ensure the health and safety of the flying public. This should absolutely include the requirement of all passengers to wear masks since we know that masks are one of the most effective tools to mitigate people's risk of exposure when those around them are also wearing masks."

See the entire letter here.

In his letter to JetBlue, Congressman Cohen wrote:

"On April 27, 2020, I wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Stephen Dickson urging them to require the use of face masks to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in air travel.

"While the aforementioned agencies decide whether or not to take action, it is comforting to know airlines such as JetBlue are taking responsibility to properly and safely operate amid a global pandemic."

See that letter here.