Major US carriers have relaxed rules requiring face coverings on flights after a Florida judge ruled that a 14-month-old mask mandate was unlawful.
American Airlines, Delta, United and Alaska Airlines said masks would no longer be required on domestic and some international services.
US health officials last week extended the mandate until May 3, triggering industry protests.
But the ruling on Monday means that the Transport Security Administration (TSA) will no longer enforce the use of masks by travellers, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends them.
The White House said in a statement: “Due to today’s court ruling, effective immediately, TSA will no longer enforce its security directives and emergency amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs.
“TSA will also rescind the new security directives that were scheduled to take effect tomorrow (Tuesday).
“CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.”
The US Travel Association, which had been lobbying for removal of the mask mandate for travellers, welcomed the intervention.
Executive vice president of public affairs and policy Tori Emerson Barnes said: “The current decision to halt enforcement of the federal mask mandate effectively returns the choice of mask usage on planes and other forms of public transportation to travellers and travel industry workers, a further step toward endemic management of Covid.
“We also continue to urge the administration to immediately end pre-departure testing for vaccinated inbound international passengers, which discourages travel and provides limited public health benefits.”
The change came about after US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, an appointee of former president Donald Trump, said the CDC improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rule-making.
She ruled that the CDC had exceeded its authority with the mandate, had not sought public comment and did not adequately explain its decisions.
Delta Air Lines said: “Following the ruling of a US district court judge on Monday, the Biden administration announced that the Transportation Security Administration will no longer enforce the federal mandate requiring masks in all US airports and on board aircraft.
“Effective immediately, masks are optional for all airport employees, crew members and customers inside U.S. airports and on board all aircraft domestically, as well as on most international flights.
“We are relieved to see the US mask mandate lift to facilitate global travel as Covid-19 has transitioned to an ordinary seasonal virus.
United Airlines said: “Effective immediately, masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country’s mask requirements) or at U.S. airports.”
American Airlines said: “The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend that people wear a face mask in indoor public transportation settings, but they aren’t required to be worn in airport settings or on your flight unless an individual jurisdiction has these requirements.”