Europe’s EASA and ECDC say face masks no longer needed on flights and in airports

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have issued an update to the health safety measures for air travel, dropping the recommendation for mandatory face masks in airports and on board flights.

The news was announced in a joint statement on May 11, 2022, and the new recommendations will come into effect from May 16, 2022.

“From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,” EASA’s executive director Patrick Ky said.

“For passengers and aircrews, this is a big step forward in the normalization of air travel. Passengers should however behave responsibly and respect the choices of others around them. And a passenger who is coughing and sneezing should strongly consider wearing a face mask, for the reassurance of those seated nearby,” Ky continued.

However, the statement also noted that a face mask is still one of the best protections against the transmission of COVID-19.

The authorities warned that rules from mask wearing “will continue to vary by airline” and air carriers will still reserve the right to encourage passengers to wear masks on flights to or from “a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport”.

“Vulnerable passengers should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules, ideally an FFP2/N95/KN95 type mask which offers a higher level of protection than a standard surgical mask,” the EASA and ECDC statement continued.

The EASA and the ECDC also encouraged travelers to observe the recommended social distancing measures in indoor areas, such as airports, where possible.