HEBRON, Kentucky — In the wake of a federal court ruling, the Transportation Security Administration announced it will no longer enforce the mandate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, requiring face covering on public transportation or at transit hubs.

For the first time in 14 months, masks became optional for most passengers across the country, and Tuesday morning, travelers at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport had the chance to make that choice for themselves.

Between the time her flight to Orlando canceled Monday, and the time she returned to the airport Tuesday morning, it surprised Jen Davis how much had changed. 

“Yesterday, it felt like almost everybody was wearing a mask, but today, it doesn’t look quite the same,” she said. 

She was one of a few dozen passengers in line sporting a face-covering. Davis said she plans to continue wearing one as long as the spread of coronavirus continues to be a serious public health concern. 

“It concerns me,” she said. “Because I think it’s really easy to wear a mask and there are a lot of immunocompromised people who rely on other responsible people to wear masks.”

Tuesday morning, CVG announced its updated policy. According to Mindy Kershner, the airport’s spokeswoman, as most of the partner airlines dropped their mandates, the airport would follow suit. As of Tuesday, masks are now optional.

“I think other airports are making decisions probably based on the community and that kind of thing, but we are just following with what the federal ruling is and in coordination with our partners with the TSA and the airlines,” she said.

CVG’s decision is also in line with all other major Ohio airports and major metro bus services, Amtrak and Uber. 

Mike Paul, who was traveling back home to New Jersey on Tuesday morning, said he felt a little more relaxed riding to the airport without a mask, knowing he wouldn’t need one once he arrived.

“It’s like a two-hour flight, so it’s not that big a deal but it’s definitely freeing to be able to know I can just come here, not have to put a mask on and sit comfortably in my chair,” he said. 

Across much of Ohio, public transit hubs were primarily the last places that required masks. Cincinnati had dropped its mandate for public buildings in March, yet last week, the CDC extended the transportation mask mandate until May 3.

Davis believed the mask order was justified given the unique conditions of public transportation.

“In an airport, especially, there’s just a lot of tight quarters. It makes me feel better to do my part to stop or at least slow the spread,” she said.

Kershner said the airport and airline partners understand passenger concerns and have been working since the pandemic began, to help make travel safer, such as improving air filtration and increasing the frequency at which they clean major touchpoints. 

She also recommended travelers stay home if not feeling well and to use their best judgment.

“People can feel rest assured, I think, that things are being cleaned that airports and airlines are taking care of the traveling public,” she said. 

Kershner said the airport is also monitoring the federal guidelines and is prepared to change course should the Justice Department appeal. If things were to change, she asks passengers to remain patient, flexible and understanding.