British Airways and Easy Jet. Victor Jiang/Shutterstock
- Mask requirements on airplanes became general around the world following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- With COVID cases falling, some European airlines have dropped the mask requirement on certain routes.
- Masks are mandatory for US airlines and planes flying to and from the US until at least May 3.
Loading Something is loading.
Shortly after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, wearing masks became the new reality for most people around the world. For almost two years, most everyday activities, such as eating out and shopping, required masks, even for those who were fully vaccinated.
However, recent months have shown a decline in COVID cases, and many places around the world are dropping mask requirements altogether. Despite the relaxed guidelines, many countries like France and Germany still require wearing face coverings on public transport, including on planes and in airports, according to data provider World Population Reviews.
The mandate required airlines to comply with and enforce mask rules. While many people welcomed the new norm, many did not embrace it, leading to a sharp rise in recalcitrant passenger cases, particularly in the US.
In 2021, over 4,000 mask-related reports were filed with the Federal Aviation Administration, with offenders being fined up to $82,000, prosecuted, or both.
The public transit mask mandate was implemented by President Joe Biden in January 2021 and the policy was scheduled to expire on March 18 but was extended to April 18, frustrating travelers and surprising some analysts.
Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and president of the Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider in March he was concerned about the “uneven policies” that “make airlines and airports look like the bad guys.”
“It also puts workers in an awkward position because once you exit the airport terminal, you’re likely to find yourself in a community where mask-wearing is no longer required,” he said.
As COVID continues to decline and countries end mask requirements, some leaders are calling on the Biden administration to end the federal mandate in the US.
“It doesn’t make sense that people on planes are still required to wear masks but are allowed to gather without masks in crowded restaurants, schools and at sporting events, even though none of these venues have the protective air filtration system that planes have,” said executives of the largest US airlines in a March 23 letter to Biden.
On Wednesday, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the mandate through May 3, CNN reported.
“Since early April, the 7-day rolling average of cases in the US has been rising,” a Biden administration official told CNN. “To assess the potential impact that the rise in cases has on serious illnesses, including hospitalizations and deaths, and the capacity of the healthcare system, the CDC recommends that the TSA expand the safety policy to include the use of masks on public transportation and transportation hubs for 15 days to enforce until May 3, 2022.”
While the US aircraft mandate remains in effect, there are several airlines in Europe that have stopped wearing masks on many routes. However, some of the UK airlines have faced staff shortages due to the mask-off mandate, forcing them to cancel hundreds of flights.
According to Cirium to CBS MoneyWatch, EasyJet canceled 202 flights out of the UK between March 28 and April 3, compared to zero cancellations over the same period in 2019. BA canceled 393.
An EasyJet spokesman told CBS that “higher than usual sick leave among employees” contributed to the spike in cancellations. However, a BA spokesman said only a small number of canceled flights were COVID-related.
“There’s a risk we’ll see some of these in North America and it all depends on case numbers,” said Rob Morris, head of airline analytics firm Ascend by Cirium. “But it will be relatively short term as airlines will adjust capacity to manage demand and protect the integrity of their network.”
Here are the airlines that no longer require masks on planes.
British Airways
SEREE YINDEE/Shutterstock
Following the lifting of mask bans in England and Wales, British Airways has updated its mask policy to make it optional on flights if the destination does not require it. However, the airline continues to require face coverings for locations where the company has not been able to “clarify local restrictions”.
easyjet
Simone Previdi/Shutterstock
Similar to BA, London-based EasyJet has ended mask requirements on flights where origin and destination do not require them. In particular, people on flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Denmark, Sweden, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Hungary, Iceland and Poland can refrain from wearing face coverings on board.
Jet2
A Jet2 Boeing 737 lands at Newcastle Airport. Robert Smith/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
British low-cost airline Jet2 became the first airline in the UK to end mask requirements on planes, relaxing the rule on March 1. The airline says masks are still required on flights to and from Scotland, as well as in overseas countries where they are still required.
TUI
Bradley Caslin/Shutterstock
Charter airline TUI says masks can be dropped for travelers to or from England, Wales or Northern Ireland, but flights to and from Scotland and some overseas countries like the US still require face coverings.
Icelandair
An Icelandair Boeing 757. IanC66/Shutterstock.com
Icelandair has also updated its mask policy to be optional on some routes, including flights within Iceland and to or from Europe and Greenland. However, masks are still mandatory for flights to Canada, the USA, Germany (except Frankfurt) and Paris.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic. EQRoy/Shutterstock
From March 16, Virgin Atlantic has changed its mask rules to be optional on flights from Heathrow and Manchester to the Caribbean. Specifically, face coverings may be removed on flights to or from Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Scandinavian airlines
SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A350-900 XWB. Thomas Pallini/Insider
Scandinavian Airlines, also known as SAS, lifted the mask mandate on flights in Sweden, Denmark and Norway in October, but extended it to all flights except to and from the US, China and Italy from April 4.
Norwegian air shuttle
Norwegian Air Shuttle Norwegian Air Shuttle
Norwegian Air Shuttle changed its Covid-era mask policy on April 4, now allowing passengers to waive face coverings on all flights. However, masks may still be required on routes to certain destinations. The company said that on February 12, when the mandate in Scandinavia was lifted, it “sensed increased passenger demand and optimism about pre-booking leisure and business travel”.