Jet2 has become the first airline to scrap the mandatory wearing of face masks. They announced on their website:
“It’s no longer a legal requirement to wear a face mask at our airports or onboard our planes. However, as per UK Government guidance, we recommend that you continue to wear a face mask in these spaces, and you will need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination.”
Slightly Different Rules in Scotland
Due to the different Covid-19 rules in Scotland, passengers travelling to and from there will still be required to wear masks. Jet2 said:
“It’s still a legal requirement for everyone aged six years and over to wear a face mask at our Scottish airports and onboard our planes travelling to and from those airports. This is the case even if you’re fully vaccinated.”
Mask Wearing Overseas
On international flights, you’ll only be required to wear a face mask once you leave the plane. The specific rules of the country you’re travelling to will apply once you leave the aircraft, so it’s good to have a mask handy.
Ryanair to Drop Mask Mandate
CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has said that he hopes to scrap mandatory face coverings on his airline from May. Mr O’Leary stated:
“I’d like to see it come to an end maybe by the end of April, at the end of May. We are consulting with cabin crew as well at the moment. We want to know how they feel. The key issue for us is that people are comfortable to go back onboard our aircraft,”
Earlier this year, Chief Financial Officer at Ryanair, Neil Sorahan, compared the mandatory face-covering rules to the liquid restrictions that were put in place after an airline bomb plot in 2006. He stated:
“Masks will be something that will be with us for a while longer to come. If that is the price we have to pay for the next few months, into summer – it’s a small price to pay,”
Masks are still mandatory on nearly all other airlines. What do you think about the compulsory rules? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
