In a rare moment of candor, the CEOs of the two largest domestic airlines in the United States both expressed personal belief that mask mandates do little to promote safety onboard commercial flights. But hours later, both airlines tried to walk back the statements of their CEOs. Then in pure doublespeak, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker released a lengthy “clarification.”
Southwest Airlines, American Airlines CEO Question Need For Masks On Airplanes
During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the Payroll Support Program, Senator Roger Wicker (R – MS), asked if masks should continue to be mandated on aircraft.
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said:
“I think the case is very strong that masks don’t add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment. It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting.”
American Airlines CEO Doug Parker quickly added:
“I concur. An aircraft is the safest place you can be. It’s true of all of our aircraft — they all have the same HEPA filters and air flow.”
But after the hearing, American Airlines tried to walk back Parker’s statement, stating he “did not intend to cast doubt on the necessity of face masks on planes.” The statement added:
“As noted in Doug’s testimony, we support the federal mask mandate, and masks are an important part of our commitment to keeping our customers and team members healthy and safe.”
Southwest also tried to walk back Kelly’s statement,
“A sophisticated air distribution system introduces fresh outside air and HEPA-filtered air into the cabin, creating a protective environment prior to the added layer of wearing a mask. Southwest Airlines continues to abide by the federal mask mandate for customers and employees both within the airport environment and onboard all Southwest aircraft.”
But this wasn’t even the first time Kelly had stated publicly he supported phasing out the mask mandate.
That did not stop…