No masks on planes or at European airports from next Monday

Europe continues to take steps towards the new post-Covid ‘normality’ and now wants the use of masks to cease being mandatory on planes and at airports, according to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC).

However, mandatory use will remain in force for vulnerable passengers, who are advised to use an FPP2, and on flights that take off or land in destinations where its use is still enforced for public transport.

In addition, the final decision about masks on planes and airports remains in the hands of the EU Member States and airlines. In Spain, wearing a mask has no longer been mandatory at airports, although it is on public transport, since April 20th.

European organizations have made this decision, which will come into force from next Monday, May 16th, after evaluating the latest data on the pandemic, the levels of vaccination across the continent, and the immunity acquired by the millions of people infected in the last two years. "While the risks remain, we have seen that non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccines have allowed our lives to begin to return to normal," said ECDC director Andrea Ammon.

“From next week, face masks will no longer have to be mandatory on planes or at airports, broadly aligning with changing requirements from national authorities across Europe for public transport. For air passengers and crews, this is a huge step forward in normalizing air travel," said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky.

Even so, both entities recall that it remains one of the most useful protection elements to stop Covid-19 infections. “Passengers must behave responsibly and respect the choices of others around them. And any passenger who is coughing and sneezing should seriously consider wearing a face mask, in respect for those sitting nearby."