Face masks: The changing face of flying
Face masks are likely to become mandatory on flights as international airlines demand passengers wear them and the UK airlines body calls for a worldwide policy.
Air France, KLM and Wizz Air have announced that the wearing of face covers will be made mandatory for passengers, while Stansted and Manchester airports will introduce the policy this weekend.
The International Air Transport Association said yesterday that it “supports the wearing of face coverings for passengers and masks for crew” on aircraft as part of a “layered approach” to passenger safety.
Airlines UK, which represents 13 carriers including British Airways, Ryanair and Easyjet, said it would like to see the UK working internationally with Europe and the US to develop some common standards.
These could include compulsory use of face masks, alongside screening in airport terminals and “robust cleaning and hygiene measures”.
The body warned social distancing on planes would be “almost impossible to implement” and that a standard set of measures was needed.
A spokesman said flights might have to implement different levels of preventive measures depending on whether they were flying from or to a country with strict precautions in place. This would mean that if another country or airport required the wearing of a face mask, then travellers would have to comply.
On Tuesday Aer Lingus said it would review its on-board procedures after it faced criticism for operating a packed flight between Belfast and London.