Bush Airport employee on junking of federal mask mandate: 'We're ready to unmask'

A federal judge's ruling to strike down the federal mask mandate for air travel and public transportation on Monday (April 18) was mostly welcomed by workers and passengers at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), according to a report from Houston CBS affiliate KHOU.

The Florida judge deemed the mandate unlawful and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a statement saying it'll no longer enforce it, the station reported.

The mandate has been in place longer than it should, an unidentified airport employee told KHOU.

"Two years too long," the worker told the station. "We're ready to unmask."

KHOU reported that a lot of masks came off at IAH, the city's main air gateway. 

One of the relieved travelers is Shakinah Malone, who divulged to the station that wearing a mask was painful.

Malone, who was traveling with her family, alluded to the COVID-19 vaccine when it comes to her ease with the absence of the mandate. 

"I really don't have a problem with it because a lot of people are vaccinated now," she said, per KHOU. "The COVID cases are down so I really don't think it's a problem."

The station reported that a host of airlines including United, Southwest and American have eliminated their own mask rules.

Popular ride-hailing platforms Uber and Lyft have reportedly did away with mask requirements as well. 

Even with the lifting of rules, there are other people who still opt to don a mask.

Traveler Ruth Cher-Aime told KHOU as she waited for her flight that she'll continue to cover her face.

"Because we're already so close on the flight, I'd rather wear the mask because I don't know these people," Cher-Aime said, according to the station. "I'm a family woman. I'm around my grandparents, so just out of respect for them."