(KGTV) — Nearly 500 people have been banned from Delta flights after refusing to wear facial coverings in accordance with the company's coronavirus policy.
The airlines said in an internal memo obtained by ABC News that at least 460 people have been added to a "no-fly list" for not wearing a mask.
Airlines companies agreed in June to ban passengers who refused to wear face coverings, CNN reported. Delta's mask requirement went into effect for passengers on May 4.
"Wearing a mask is among the simplest and most effective actions we can take to reduce transmission, which is why Delta has long required them for our customers and our people. As of this week, we’ve added 460 people to our no-fly list for refusing to comply with our mask requirement," according to an internal memo to employees from CEO Ed Bastian, ABC News reported.
In August, Delta said it had banned about 270 passengers since the pandemic began.
Earlier this month, the Department of Defense released the results of a 6-month study that claimed the risk of contracting COVID-19 on a flight were virtually 0% if all passengers wore masks. The study used mannequins that simulated coughing with a mask on and off, however, the mannequins did not simulate people walking around the plane.
