American Airlines, Southwest CEOs Argue Against Masks on Flights, Delta CEO Disagrees

CEOs of one of the vital u . s .’s largest airways Wednesday shared their opinions on the need of masks on flights, with two arguing they are no longer needed to maintain passengers protected, and a 3rd disagreeing.

The problem of masks on flights got here up as airline heads testified about $54 billion their trade acquired from the federal govt through the Payroll Improve Application to stay afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic, at a listening to in front of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

In line with a Washington Submit report, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) at one point throughout the listening to asked American Airlines CEO Doug Parker, United Airways CEO Scott Kirby and Southwest Airways CEO Gary Kelly in the event that they really feel masks are still wanted on flights.

Kelly instructed lawmakers, “I believe the case is very sturdy that masks don’t add a lot, if anything else, in the air cabin setting. It is vitally protected and very top of the range compared to any other indoor atmosphere.”

Parker mentioned, “I concur. An plane is the safest position which you can be. It’s real of all of our plane — they all have the identical HEPA filters and airflow.”

The comments drew a essential response from former Health care provider General Jerome Adams, who referred to as them “irresponsible” right through an interview on CNN’s New Day Thursday.

JUST NOW: “It was once irresponsible… These other folks are making report money at this time as a result of these mask mandates. I was disgusted after I heard that.”

Fmr Doctor Normal @JeromeAdamsMD reacts to airline CEOs pronouncing masks is probably not vital on flights.%twitter.com/AFI89tfzD0

— John Berman (@JohnBerman) December 16, 2021

The feedback additionally drew a swift rebuke from Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian, who noted the emergence of the omicron variant as evidence that airlines should at the moment be as cautious as ever.

Bastian instructed CNBC, “I don’t recognize that I accept as true with Gary’s remarks, particularly as we see omicron continue to enter into our u . s .. Masks are going to be vital as a protect for some time yet.”

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