United Airlines Updates Policy: Face Masks Now Required In All Airports Airline Serves

United Airlines (UAL) has updated its face mask policy amid the coronavirus pandemic to now require passengers to wear them in the more than 360 airports the airline serves across the globe, effective Friday.

The face mask policy extends to customer service counters, kiosks, United Club locations, gates, and baggage claim areas as well as during boarding, inflight, and deplaning.

United said that travelers who do not comply with the face mask policy will be refused travel and banned from traveling with the company for as long as the requirement is in place with the airline.

Children under the age of 2 are exempt from the face mask requirement; individuals who have extraordinary circumstances where they can’t wear a mask are asked to contact United or speak to an airport representative.

United said that customers not wearing a face mask will be given a verbal reminder and be offered a free mask to wear. For travelers who still refuse to comply with the policy, a reminder card will be then be provided that outlines the company’s policy, followed by a ban from traveling with the carrier.

“The most important thing any of us can do to slow the spread of the coronavirus is to simply wear a mask when we're around other people,” Scott Kirby, CEO at United Airlines, said in a statement. “A mask is about protecting the safety of others, and I'm proud of the aggressive and proactive steps United Airlines has taken to ensure people are wearing a face covering in the airports where we operate and onboard the aircraft we fly.”

United’s enhanced face mask policy follows an announcement by Delta that medical exemptions will be required by passengers who are not able to wear a face covering when traveling with the airline.

Shares of United stock were trading at $32.86 as of 9:30 a.m. ET, down $0.21 or 0.64%.