This airline will make masks mandatory. They have flights at Sarasota Bradenton airport
Allegiant, one of the few airlines flying full flights out of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, announced Friday that it is stepping up its health and safety requirements during the pandemic.
Beginning July 2, customers will be required to wear face masks during all phases of travel, including at the ticket counter, in the gate area, during boarding, on the aircraft and during the flight, the company announced Friday.
The policy update builds on Allegiant’s comprehensive health and safety program by bringing an extra layer of protection to customers, crew and team members.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, in concert with CDC guidance and medical experts, we have adopted a wide range of policies and procedures to ensure our customers can fly with confidence — from utilizing state-of-the art cleaning and disinfection technologies to providing complimentary health and safety kits to all who travel with us,” Scott Sheldon, Allegiant executive vice president and CEO, said in a press release.
“We have found that the vast majority of customers wear masks as a standard practice, but this update adds a layer of assurance and addresses customer needs as communities re-open. We had hoped to see a federal mandate to require face masks, so that all airlines could be uniform in their approach, to avoid customer confusion, and to aid enforcement. In the absence of that, we are taking this next needed step in our own policy,” Sheldon said.
In recent weeks, several states, including Florida, have reported spikes in COVID-19 infections.
Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, said Friday he thought most major airlines had already made wearing a mask mandatory during flights.
“We have got to get people feeling safe,” Piccolo said.
In early May, Allegiant began providing all passengers with complimentary health and safety kits, which include a face mask and cleansing wipes. The airline has strongly encouraged passengers to wear face masks, with most adopting the practice. Allegiant employees are required to wear face masks when they interact with customers.
Customers can use their own face mask or covering, or the mask provided by Allegiant. Children ages 2 and under are exempt from the new policy, as are passengers with disabilities or documented medical conditions. Passengers will also be allowed to remove face coverings to briefly eat or drink. The new policy is highlighted when customers book their flights, as well as in confirmation and reminder emails ahead of their departure date.
Acknowledgment of this policy will also be included in a health questionnaire required at check-in. Customers who do not comply will not be allowed to fly.
Additionally, when booking a flight, customers can request to be notified if a booked flight exceeds 65 percent capacity. If they’re not comfortable traveling at that time, they can choose from a number of options, including being rebooked on another flight.
Prior to the pandemic, Allegiant was a prime mover in making Sarasota Bradenton International Airport one of the fastest growing in the United States.
