U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, appointed by former President Donald Trump, said the mandate went beyond the authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC extended the mandate due to the new Omicron variant even as indoor mandates were dropped across the nation by state and local authorities.

Airlines have repeatedly pleaded with the Biden administration to drop the mandate and other restrictions, such as predeparture testing for international travelers.

It remains to be seen how airlines and passengers will react in the immediate aftermath of the ruling.