Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport 'first' in the US to add PPE vending machines

Travelers flying into and out of Las Vegas who are in need of hand sanitiser or a face mask are in luck; the McCarran International Airport now has three personal protective equipment (PPE) vending machines.

Located near the Terminal 1 ticket counters and the Terminal 3 TSA checkpoint, the new PPE vending machines sell masks, gloves, wipes and hand sanitiser for travellers in need.

McCarran International Airport claims it was the first airport to have such machines.

Speaking to USA Today, an airport spokesperson confirmed that a three pack of face masks are selling for $7.50, while a reusable cloth mask is demanding a steep $14.50. Ten packs of alcohol wipes will cost $5.25 and a 50mL bottle of hand sanitiser will cost $4.25.

While McCarran International may be the first to have vending machines for PPE, it isn't the only one; the Tulsa International Airport has also started selling masks in its vending machines and many other airports are selling the items in terminal retail stores.

Christine Crews, a spokeswoman for McCarran, said that the installation of the machines addressed a travel issue that is likely to become increasingly relevant.

"With all the changes that have been happening rapidly ... it's not unthinkable that someone can show up at the airport and forget one of these items that are now almost essential for travel," she said.

Under current Federal Aviation Administration policy, travellers are not mandated to wear masks. However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations to wear face coverings while in public - including during travel - have remained unchanged.

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Three of the country's biggest airlines - Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines - will not force customers to fully comply with the CDC's guidelines on face coverings.

According to Yahoo News, that decision hasn't sat well with the workers who have to fly alongside noncompliant customers on a daily basis; the Association of Flight Attendants CWA(AFA) union - which represents some 50,000 flight attendants - has called for stricter policies to protect its members.

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"We need a federal plan of action to implement safety measures on masks, social distancing, cleaning and more," AFA President Sara Nelson said. "Safety, health and our entire economy is on the line. We need federal requirements that mitigate risk during this pandemic and put the safety of crew and the travelling public first."

Seven flight attendants have died as a result of coronavirus, and at least 250 members of the AFA union have tested positive for the virus.

Despite this, CBS News reported that at least one major US airline was considering removing its social distancing policies so it would no longer have to fly with unfilled seats.

Travellers have taken to social media in some instances to express their frustration with airlines over their seemingly lax enforcement of social distancing strictures.

Last weekend, a doctor travelling on a United flight took a photo showing a plane that they said was 85 per cent full, including occupied middle seats.

"I guess @united is relaxing their social distancing policy these days," Dr Ethan Weiss, a cardiologist, tweeted.

Mr Weiss was returning to his home in San Francisco after treating Covid-19 patients in New York.

Since the photo went viral, United said that it will now call passengers once their flights are near 70 per cent capacity and allow them to change their travel arrangements if they wish.