NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- JetBlue announced Monday that beginning May 4, they will require that all passengers wear face coverings during travel to help slow the spread of coronavirus.



The company is now the first major U.S. airline to implement that new policy.



Previously, the airline required all crew members wear face coverings while working.



"Wearing a face covering isn't about protecting yourself it's about protecting those around you," said president and chief operating officer of JetBlue, Joanna Geraghty. "This is the new flying etiquette. Onboard, cabin air is well circulated and cleaned through filters every few minutes but this is a shared space where we have to be considerate of others. We are also asking our customers to follow these CDC guidelines in the airport as well."



Travelers will be asked to cover their mouth and nose during check-in, boarding, while in flight and deplaning.



On Monday, Delta reported that it will join American, United and JetBlue airlines in requiring that all employees wear face coverings.

Starting in early May, American Airlines will begin distributing sanitizing wipes or gels in addition to face masks for the customers who board its planes, according to a statement released on Monday.



“We are looking out for our customers’ well-being to give them peace of mind while they travel with us,” said Kurt Stache, the company’s senior vice president of customer experience. “We’re moving quickly on these enhancements and we’ll continue to improve the travel experience for our customers and team members as we navigate these times together.”



Flight attendants will also be supplied with PPE to stop the virus spread on its flights.