I predicted that when the time was right the whole pandemic security state would rapidly collapse (at a time when the popular social media theory was that it would continue forever), but even I have been taken aback by the speed with which it’s being dismantled.
The airline mask mandate isn’t going away just yet, but the Biden administration is doing a limited 1-month renewal in March that will expire in mid-April.
The federal mask mandate, which also covers trains and buses, was the broadest symptom of the COVID state because it was the one decree that covered the most people. If the CDC follows its recent pattern, then it will hedge a little and then the transportation mask mandate will go away.
The question is what will airlines do?
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker was famously canceled by furious maskers when he told a congressional hearing that masks weren’t really needed on planes.
Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian has been a furious masker and not only cheered the previous mask mandate renewal, but has called for a no-fly-list of unruly passengers.
That means you can probably expect masks to go on being required on Delta flights, but not on American flights if the mask mandate lapses.
I’m just speculating here of course, but we will likely be seeing some fairly different airline policies which is how a free market works. And how this should have worked all along.
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