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Spirit will require passengers to wear face masks amid pandemic; 3 airlines mandate them Monday

Curtis Tate
USA TODAY

On Sunday, Spirit Airlines became the latest domestic airline requiring passengers to wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Starting Monday, passengers on United, Delta and JetBlue will begin wearing them. Spirit's new policy will take effect May 11, the same day as American, Southwest and Alaska.

The face mask requirement marks the beginning of what's likely to be a prolonged effort to resume domestic and eventually international air travel. 

According to the Transportation Security Administration, about 134,000 travelers passed through airport security checkpoints Saturday. That's one of the higher numbers TSA has reported in the past month, but still well below the 1.9 million of a year ago. 

On Sunday, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told CBS News that it's safe to fly again, highlighting measures that the airline is taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including the face mask requirement. Southwest will provide masks if customers forget to bring their own. The Dallas-based airline has already mandated masks for employees.

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"We're doing everything possible to encourage people to come back and fly," Kelly told CBS News.

Starting May 8, Frontier Airlines will require its passengers to wear face masks that cover their noses and mouths "throughout their journey," the airline said Thursday in a statement, adding that its flight crews and airport workers are already doing so.

United said it would provide the required face coverings to passengers starting Monday. Spirit passengers will have to bring their own masks, and will have to wear them at the airport and throughout the flight. Very young children will be exempt. 

Most domestic airlines fell in line last week on the requirement, following calls from leading lawmakers and union leaders. Some had already required their employees to wear face masks.

Passengers, most wearing face masks, enter the main terminal after arriving at Denver International Airport on April 23, 2020.

Another carrier, Allegiant Air, will begin providing passengers this week with a kit that includes a single-use face mask. Allegiant spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said the airline encourages passengers to wear a face mask, but will not require it.

"We find that most passengers have already adopted this as a practice," she said.

Masks became mandatory for American's flight attendants on Friday. The airline also began distributing masks, sanitizing gel and disinfecting wipes to passengers.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, a regional carrier, expect passengers to bring masks themselves and keep them on while at the airport and during the flight. Masks will be available to those who forget.

Alaska will also provide disposable surgical and reusable fabric masks for employees. Pilots, flight attendants and customer service agents are required to wear masks beginning Monday.

Delta, United and JetBlue flight attendants are already wearing masks. United's new policy will also make masks compulsory for other frontline employees such as pilots, customer service agents and ramp workers. Employees using their flight benefits will also have to wear them.

“This is the new flying etiquette," said Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's president and chief operating officer, in a statement.

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