The federal government in Ottawa says mask mandates for air travel remain in place across Canada even as airlines in the U.S. drop the requirement for passengers and crews.
Earlier this week, a federal judge in Florida struck down a national mask mandate on airplanes and mass transit, prompting all seven of America's major airlines to repeal rules that customers and staff wear face coverings, effective immediately.
However, federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra reiterated that masks are still required on all flights that arrive in or depart from Canada.
Canadian airlines also confirmed their mask requirements remain in place, though WestJet said the change down south “highlights the need for harmonization and consistency of these mandates across borders to eliminate confusion” for customers.
Air Canada (AC) said that while mask rules are still in force, measures abroad are being “safely lifted” for a range of activities and that Canadian policies should align with other fields and jurisdictions.
