Lifting mask mandates will mean a ‘great rebound in traffic’: Tampa International Airport CEO
Tampa International Airport lifted its mask mandate policy for all travelers Tuesday
Tampa International Airport CEO: Lifting mask mandates will mean ‘great rebound in traffic’
Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano says traffic has been strong from the holidays and his facility will see a ‘great rebound in traffic’ amid the lifted mask mandates.
Tampa International Airport is the latest facility to say goodbye to mask mandates, as the CEO said eliminating this policy will result in a "great rebound in traffic."
"We only see about 5% of our passengers are wearing masks these days. They all seem happy, they're smiling, and they're enjoying themselves…things are good here in Tampa," Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano told "Cavuto: Coast to Coast," Wednesday.
Tampa International Airport lifted its mask mandate policy for all travelers yesterday after receiving guidance from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
TSA announced it would no longer enforce the January 2021 mask restrictions that applied to airplanes, airports, taxis, and other mass transit.
Tampa International Airport CEO on lifting mask mandates
Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano provides insight into how lifting the mask mandates will impact travelers.
On Monday, a federal judge made the move to void the Biden administration’s mask mandate for travelers. The ruling refers to a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in a case brought in Florida federal court by Health Freedom Defense Fund, Inc.
Judge Mizelle insisted that the mandate didn’t comply with the Administrative Procedure Act by being outside the scope of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) authority.
Last week, the CDC said it was extending its travel mask mandate until May 3 due to a minor uptick in COVID-19 cases.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Cavuto asked the CEO should the Justice Department succeeds in overturning the mask mandate will the policies and requirements be reimposed.
Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano joined FOX Business and said traffic has been ‘very strong’ from spring break and ‘summer’s booked solid.' (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File / AP Newsroom)
"I think it’ll be very difficult to reinforce…once you let people have that freedom, and I think it is a freedom that people enjoy, they're not going to want to go back to the old way."
READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS
Despite the Florida hearing, Lopano mentioned traffic is "very, very strong," and he looks forward to seeing more travelers at the Tampa International Airport.
"We’re just coming off a spring break that was larger than our pre-pandemic levels. Our summer’s booked solid and I think we're going to see a great rebound in traffic," he concluded.
FOX Business' Bradford Betz contributed to this report.