US Airlines Tell Crews Not to Force Passengers to Wear Masks

A passenger wearing a mask waits in line to check in for a flight as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it temporarily halted flights arriving at New York City airports and Philadelphia on Saturday after a trainee at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Miami International Airport, Miami, Fla., U.S., March 21, 2020. Carlos Barria/Reuters

The top three U.S. airlines have told their flight attendants not to force passengers to comply with their new policy requiring face coverings, just encourage them to do so, according to employee policies reviewed by Reuters.

American Airlines Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., and United Airlines Holdings Inc. have told employees that they may deny boarding at the gate to anyone not wearing a face covering, and are providing masks to passengers who do not have them, the three carriers told Reuters.