EU to drop mandatory mask requirements for air travel

The EU has announced the removal of Covid-19 face mask recommendations while in airports and onboard.

According to the statements issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Aviation Health Safety Protocol regarding face protections for air travel will relax starting May 16.

Nevertheless, the institutions highlighted the importance of wearing a mask, as doing so is “still one of the best protections against the transmission of Covid-19”.

Patrick Ky, executive director at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, commented:

“For many passengers and also aircrew members there is a strong desire for masks to no longer be a mandatory part of air travel. We are now at the start of that process.

“Passengers should continue to comply with the requirements of their airline and, where preventive measures are optional, make responsible decisions and respect the choice of other passengers.”

On the other hand, ECDC director Andrea Ammon stated that the risk for Covid-19 transmission is still high, despite the removal of requirements.

“It is important to be mindful that together with physical distancing and good hand hygiene, it [wearing masks] is one of the best methods of reducing transmission.

“The rules and requirements of departure and destination states should be respected and applied consistently, and travel operators should take care to inform passengers of any required measures in a timely manner”, declared Ammon.

In contrast, IATA’s director general Willie Walsh thinks the decision is “another important step along the road back to normality”.

“Travellers can look forward to freedom of choice on whether to wear a mask and they can travel with confidence knowing that many features of the aircraft cabin, such as high frequency air exchange and high efficiency filters, make it one of the safest indoor environments,” he concluded.

 

Source: businesstravelnewseurope.com