- United Airlines will allow some of the 1,000 previously banned passengers to fly on its planes again.
- The passengers were forbidden from flying the carrier due to mask-related unruly behavior.
- The move comes after a federal judge in Florida struck down the Biden Administrations' mask mandate.
United confirmed to Insider on Wednesday that it will start allowing passengers who were previously banned for mask-related incidents back onto its planes.
The Federal Aviation Administration received about 4,300 mask-related reports from airlines in 2021, with nearly 800 reported so far in 2022.
The federal mask mandate was set to expire on March 18, but the US Transportation Security Administration extended it to April 18, and then again to May 3. However, a federal judge in Florida struck down the policy on Monday, forcing the TSA to stop enforcing the rule. The agency noted that the CDC still "recommends that people continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings."
Now that the mandate is thrown out, US carriers have been updating their policies to make face coverings optional, with United going as far as to welcome some passengers banned during the pandemic back on board.
"On a case-by-case basis, we will allow some customers who were previously banned for failing to comply with mask-related rules to fly United again," the airline told Insider.
United did not specify the criteria to be taken off its internal "no-fly" list other than "ensuring their commitment to follow all crewmember instructions" when on its aircraft. According to the company, it forbid 1,000 people from flying during the span of the mask requirement.
Airlines and crew members are happy that the mandate is lifted, with many flight attendants silently rejoicing the TSA's decision.
"We've dealt with so many passengers who saw the mask mandate as an excuse to become violent verbally towards us," a flight attendant of seven years for a major US airline told Insider. "Personally, I'm just happy I can go back to focusing on my other safety-related duties."
The crew member spoke on condition of anonymity to protect his career, but Insider verified his identity and employment.
While airline workers are moving forward, the FAA said it will maintain its "zero-tolerance" policy for unruly behavior on planes, which imposes hefty fines and potential criminal prosecution for such disruptions, CNBC reported. Before the pandemic, the agency would issue warnings or counseling in lieu of harsher punishments.
Since January 2021, 80 cases have been referred to the Justice Department, according to the FAA, and fines up to $82,000 have been sent to passengers.
"Behaving dangerously on a plane will cost you; that's a promise," acting FAA Administrator Bill Nolen told CNBC. "Unsafe behavior simply does not fly and keeping our Zero Tolerance policy will help us continue making progress to prevent and punish this behavior."