Face masks are not wanted on planes in line with the European Union, after the official steerage modified yesterday (16 Could).
However whereas maskless flights are the brand new default, round half of EU international locations are maintaining them in place in the meanwhile.
Prime vacation locations Italy, Spain and Greece are among the many 13 nations sustaining the rule, following the announcement by the European Union Aviation Security Company (EASA) final week.
The transfer, which was welcomed by different journey sector our bodies, was described by EASA’s government director Patrick Ky as “an enormous step ahead within the normalisation of air journey" for passengers and crews.
Earlier than you throw away your masks, listed here are the principles to know.
Which international locations nonetheless require masks on aeroplanes within the EU?
In full, the EU international locations nonetheless implementing mask-wearing on planes and round airports are: Austria, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
France and Czech Republic are not on this checklist. And it’s possible that extra international locations will observe go well with as Covid journey restrictions proceed to ease.
Within the meantime, folks on home or worldwide flights between these international locations ought to nonetheless put on a masks.
In its joint assertion with the European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC) on 11 Could, EASA made clear that nationwide laws override the EU-wide change.
“Sporting face masks at airports and inflight needs to be aligned with nationwide measures on sporting masks in public transport and transport hubs,” they mentioned, together with on flights away from one among these 13 international locations.
Italy has confirmed that its masks mandate will stay in place till not less than 15 June. It stipulates that extra protecting FF2 masks have to be worn on planes and different types of public transport fairly than cloth or home made ones.
Do you have to put on a masks on planes anyway?
The rule change got here with a observe of warning from the ECDC, which acknowledged that masks are nonetheless the most effective strategies for lowering Covid transmission.
Director Andrea Ammon mentioned that plane operators ought to proceed to “encourage” passengers and crew to put on masks through the flight and across the airport. So even in international locations like Denmark and the UK the place masks are usually not necessary, don’t be stunned to listen to a pre-flight announcement to this impact.
“Passengers ought to nonetheless behave responsibly and respect the alternatives of others round them,” mentioned EASA’s Patrick Ky.
"And a passenger who's coughing and sneezing ought to strongly take into account sporting a face masks, for the reassurance of these seated close by.”
Susceptible passengers ought to proceed to put on a face masks whatever the guidelines, the joint assertion added.
What do Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 say about masks?
Airways have welcomed the EU’s leisure on face masks, and brought it as an endorsement to loosen their very own guidelines.
Ryanair has additionally made masks elective on all flights besides these to/from international locations which can be nonetheless implementing them.
“We anticipate these states to calm down their face masks guidelines over the approaching days consistent with these new well being pointers from EASA and the ECDC,” CEO Eddie Wilsdon added.
British Airways and easyJet had already relaxed their guidelines in late March, making masks elective besides the place both the nation of departure or vacation spot calls for them. And Jet2 was the primary to take action as early as 1 March, however deemed scarves and snoods a “no-no” for international locations nonetheless requiring in-flight masks.
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