These Airlines No Longer Require Masks on Flights

[brooklynite]

Travel & Leisure

border restrictions, and many times that includes mask rules.

In Europe, countries like the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Ireland are increasingly ditching masks altogether, and several airlines have followed suit.

But while several countries have ditched face coverings altogether, in the United States, the Transportation Security Administration has extended its federal transportation mask mandate through at least April 18, requiring face coverings to be worn on planes, in airports, buses, trains, and on other modes of transportation.

But that isn't the case everywhere. These are the airlines that have eliminated their mask policies.

British Airways
EasyJet
KLM
SAS
Virgin Atlantic
Jet2
Icelandair
Tui

[JoanofArgh]

1. No thanks.

With the Easter break now under way, passengers at UK airports have been facing severe disruption to their plans, with long delays and hundreds of flights cancelled. Why has this been happening and what can be done?

What has caused the cancellations?
In brief, Covid-19. The relatively sudden lifting of UK pandemic restrictions has resulted in soaring demand for travel, after two years when the coronavirus testing and “traffic light” regime had made holidays either impossible or an expensive risk. This has been accompanied by a huge increase in Covid cases across the UK, to which aviation staff are obviously not immune.

Where is it worst?
Out of the airlines, easyJet seems to be suffering most, with Covid having infected large numbers of crew at its Gatwick base in particular. British Airways has only cancelled a few flights because of sickness.


https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/apr/04/what-is-behind-the-disruption-at-uk-airports

[brooklynite]

2. The plane itself is actually extremely safe...

The air is fully recirculated every three minutes.

Your bigger risk is likely in the airport terminal.

[Blues Heron]

3. Doubtful

We mask for others - in this case the flight crew. It might be safe for a few hour flight but all day is a different story. Do someone a favor - mask up - it might be your relatives health you are protecting.

[AlexSFCA]

4. wear N95 mask on the plane and you will be safe

of you wear N95, no one else needs to wear a mask around you for you to be safe.
We have now reached a point where vaccines, rapid tests and N95s are freely available so it becomes an individual decision. I hope TSA won’t extend the mask mandate.

[Blues Heron]

5. Read my post again

[AlexSFCA]

6. the crew is well protected and has been for a while

they are mandates vaccines and boosters, N95 and testing freely available. In no way their covid safety depends on the passengers anymore.
Requiring 2 y.o. wear a mask while sleeping on a plane is literally endangering children by a risk of suffocation. WHO specifically does not recommend masking under 5 y.o. at all.

[Blues Heron]

7. do yourself and others a favor and mask that thing

We are in a pandemic - its really the least you can do for yourself and others. You are only going to extend it with this anti social attitude. we really need people to step up and put on their big boy pants and their big boy masks. Don't be a whiner - just do it!

[AlexSFCA]

8. always do when required and have done for over two years

but we are in endemic phase now. I get some people love their masks and will never let them go. And I will wear one too when sick (even if not required) or during strong cold/flu seasons but please wear your N95 and stop worrying that others do the same if not required.

[Blues Heron]

9. Keep it up- good to hear. This is when we dig deep and consider others! You're doing great!

[BuddhaGirl]

11. +1

It is still a pandemic, agreed.

[BuddhaGirl]

10. I wish the mask mandate to be extended

Flight attendants aren't on board with this ridiculousness

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/ct-aud-nw-nyt-flight-attendants-mask-mandate-20220223-ksrf66revjdvjdlpghs5576pte-story.html