Face masks no longer recommended in airports and on European flights 

Face masks no longer recommended in airports and on European flights 

Face masks are now “no longer recommended” in airports and on European flights, Sky News reported. 

People will not have to wear face masks in airports and on European flights from 16 May. 

The move, announced by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and ECDC, is hoped to be the next “big step forward in the normalisation of air travel” 

Despite the face mask mandate being lifted in airports, aviation authorities have advised travellers that face coverings remain “one of the best protections” against COVID-19. 

Sky News stated that vulnerable passengers have been told they should continue to wear a face covering. People will also be asked to observe social distancing in indoor spaces. 

However, it is understood that airport operators have been advised against imposing any distancing measures if they would lead to a bottleneck, ECDC director Andrea Ammon said. 

After the face mask rule has been dropped by the EASA and the ECDC, individual airlines will have the ability to introduce their own requirements. 

Airlines have been told to encourage their passengers to continue wearing face coverings on flights to or from destinations that still enforce mandatory mask-wearing on public transport. 

Additionally, airlines are being advised to keep track of passenger locator information in case the data is needed in future – if a new variant outbreak emerges, for example. 

“From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,”, EASA executive director Patrick Ky said. 

“It is a relief to all of us that we are finally reaching a stage in the pandemic where we can start to relax the health safety measures”, he added.