WASHINGTON D.C.: In an open letter delivered to the White House last week, the CEOs of major U.S. airlines urged President Biden to drop his “outdated” federal mask mandate for those flying on airplanes, as well as for inside airports.

The letter was signed by the CEOs of Alaska Air, American Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide, Aviation FedEx Express, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and Airlines for America.

The CEO’s called upon Biden to end the federal mask mandate after it expires on 18th April, as well as COVID-19 testing requirements for incoming international travelers, stating, “Now is the time for the Administration to sunset federal transportation travel restrictions.”

While other countries, such as the UK and France, no longer imposes testing on vaccinated travelers, the U.S. still requires incoming international travelers to show proof of a negative COVID test before boarding their flights.

The CEOs said they had “supported and cooperated” with the federal government’s measures throughout the pandemic, but the burden to enforce the “now-outdated regulations” fell on their employees.

“It is critical to recognize that the burden of enforcing both the mask and pre-departure testing requirements has fallen on our employees for two years now. This is not a function they are trained to perform and subjects them to daily challenges by frustrated customers. This in turn takes a toll on their own well-being,” the letter added.

The CEOs also said that since the measures were introduced early in the pandemic, the situation has changed considerably, stressing, “they no longer make sense in the current public health context.”

“The persistent and steady decline of hospitalization and death rates are the most compelling indicators that our country is well protected against severe disease from COVID-19,” the letter noted.

“Given that we have entered a different phase of dealing with this virus, we strongly support your view that “‘COVID-19 need no longer control our lives. We are encouraged by the current data and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions from coast to coast, which indicate it is past time to eliminate COVID-era transportation policies,” the CEOs added.

The White House has yet to comment about the letter.