Face coverings are one in every of the principal coronavirus restrictions implemented on public transport the world over, with plane travel being particularly tough on enforcing mandatory mask wearing. Many providers have scrapped the stringent rules in recent months, with the travel industry now fully ‘re-open’ for the busy season. Here’s all the pieces you could find out about wearing masks on planes before catching a flight this summer.
Do you continue to need to wear a mask on the plane?
Mandatory face coverings in air travel were dropped at an end on May 16, 2022.
Together, the European Union Aviation and Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) made the choice to remove mask-wearing recommendations, according to the lifting of restrictions in a growing variety of European countries.
On May 11, Patrick Ky, executive director of the EASA said: “For passengers and air crews, this can be a big step forward within the normalisation of air travel.
“Passengers should nonetheless behave responsibly and respect the alternatives of others around them.”
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While the choice to lift mandatory mask wearing has made flying ‘easier’ for a lot of, it remains to be really helpful that passengers who’re unwell on the time of travel proceed to wear a face covering.
Mr Ky of the EASA said: “A passenger who’s coughing and sneezing should strongly consider wearing a face mask, for the reassurance of those seated nearby.”
Despite the Europe-wide decision having been made earlier in May, many airlines have been operating with relaxed mask-wearing rules for even longer.
Actually, several major British airlines including easyJet and British Airways were the primary to ease their rules on wearing masks on flights to the UK.
What are the principles for every airline?
Though some airlines have reduced the stringent rules surrounding face coverings, the precise guidelines on your flight will rely on the country you’re flying to or from, and the operator you select to travel with.
For instance, Norwegian Air has removed its mask-wearing policy from every flight across its network while British Airways still requires passengers to wear one onboard if the destination requires it.
Listed below are the particular rules for a number of the UK’s hottest airlines.
Easyjet
The well-known budget airline asks all passengers aged six and over proceed to wear a mask on routes where they’re required.
Easyjet said: “A few of the countries we fly to still have laws in place that require passengers to wear masks on board their flight.”
This includes all flights to, from and inside:
- Germany
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Kosovo
- Luxembourg
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- North Macedonia
- Portugal
- Spain
- Turkey
- Tunisia
All crew members follow the identical rules that apply to passengers.
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Tui
In a recent statement, the airline said: “Face masks will now not be a legal requirement on TUI Airways flights to/from England, Northern Ireland and Wales, nonetheless according to UK government and EU Charter guidance, we strongly recommend that you just still wear a mask throughout your flight.”
Current guidance states that it remains to be mandatory for patrons aged 12 and above travelling on TUI Airways to/from Scotland to wear a mask throughout their flight unless medically exempt.
Ryanair
All Ryanair passengers are expected to wear a mask on board and through the boarding process, apart from when eating and drinking or if medically exempt.
On their website, the airline states: “You need to wear a face mask/covering within the airport and on board your flight.
“Some countries require this to be a surgical face mask… if you happen to are travelling to/from/inside Italy, Austria or Germany, it have to be a FFP2 face mask.”
