2 hours ago
According to new official guidelines, the muzzle will not be worn on flights and airports in the European Union, starting from next Monday.
The European Aviation Safety Agency said the move was in line with COVID-19’s changing policies on public transport across Europe.
Some US airlines did the same in April, following a federal judge overturned the government’s authorization to wear a mask.
But the European Aviation Safety Agency said muzzle rules “will remain different depending on the airline”.
“From next week, there will be no need for a mask to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly in line with the changing requirements of public transport for national authorities across Europe,” said Patrick Key, the agency’s executive director.
“It is a relief to all of us that we have finally reached a point in the epidemic where we can begin to ease health safety measures,” he added.
“Reduce infection”
But the new guidelines came with some cautionary advice from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Andrea Amon, director of the center, said that although wearing a mask is no longer mandatory, it is important to remember that “along with physical distancing and good hand hygiene, this is one of the best ways to reduce transmission.”
The European Union agencies said airlines should encourage passengers to wear a mask on flights arriving or departing from places where it is still required to be worn.
Furthermore, as of May 16, 2022, aircraft operators, in their pre-flight as well as in-flight communications, must continue to encourage passengers and crew members to wear a mask during the flight as well as at the airport, even when wearing a mask is not required. “.
Some airlines flying to and from Britain have already removed the requirements for wearing a mask as final travel destinations do not require it.
The budget airline, “Ryan Air”, said that it will cancel the mandatory wearing of the muzzle on European Union flights from next Monday, in line with new European Aviation Safety Agency directives.
In March, EasyJet also said that wearing a muzzle would be a personal choice, as the muzzle was no longer required by law.
An easyJet spokesperson said: “We welcome this guidance from the European Aviation Safety Agency and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, and continue to urge European governments to take a coordinated approach to removing a requirement on aircraft, to make it easy and clear for customers.”
