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Delta Air Lines, which now provides around 70% of departures from Salt Lake City International Airport, takes the need for masks on its flights seriously.
“We have already banned 120 future passengers from traveling with Delta for refusing to wear masks on board,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian wrote to company employees in an email Thursday.
He added that the airline has just strengthened a policy that requires customers who believe medical problems prevent them from wearing a mask to complete a “clearance to fly” process before traveling, including a consultation with the University of Pittsburgh.
“And we encourage those who cannot wear masks to completely reconsider their journey,” Bastian wrote. “Countless studies and medical experts have advised us that masks are an essential response to the virus that will help us reduce transmission.”
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Bastian also said the airline is working to evaluate all of its employees for COVID-19 in the next four weeks.
That includes scheduling additional tests at their centers like Salt Lake City and introducing home tests for employees based elsewhere.
“By evaluating 100% of our people, we are establishing a baseline that helps us make critical decisions to protect the health and safety of everyone – our employees and our customers,” Bastian wrote. “We are exploring additional programs and technology to make it easier for everyone to get tested, notify us if they get the virus, and allow tracking of contacts to identify those who may have been exposed and reduce transmission.”
Earlier this month, Bastian also announced that, until at least September, Delta will continue to block intermediate seats and limit its capacity on flights to 60% to allow for social distancing. He also said he hopes the airline will likely continue the policy longer.
Bastian has said that Delta’s future depends on being a leader in protecting the safety of its passengers and workers, as well as helping travelers feel confident in the airline’s priorities.
