Jun 18, 2023 9:00 AM EDT. These countries are: Ryanairs Eddie Wilson says he expects more countries to drop air travel mask rules in the coming days based on the recommendations of the European Air Safety Agency and European Centres for Disease Control. But there she was with four hours ahead of her in a cabin full of unmasked flight attendants and mostly unmasked passengers. Learn how your comment data is processed. Were also thankful for our guests who remained considerate, patient and stood by us throughout every twist and turn.. Virgin Atlantic on March 15 echoed British Airways in telling passengers to use discretion when deciding whether to wear a mask on certain flights. Related: Ireland ditches most of its COVID-19 rules: Americans welcome just in time for St. Patricks Day. First flight done without a mask and it was an absolute dream, a woman, who identified herself as a flight attendant from Yorkshire, England, on her social media accounts, recently wrote on Twitter, alongside a photo of her fully visible smile. Please view our advertising policy page for more information. You forgot Romania we don't wear masks anymore covid has completely disappeared here. For easyJet, that includes most UK domestic flights as well as flights between the UK and Denmark, Gibraltar, Iceland, and Hungary. I can't seem to find consistent information online. Airport rules may be stricter than plane rules on a given route, meaning a traveler might have to put on a mask upon arrival. Sweden became notorious for being the only Western nation to refuse to lockdown in 2020. Across the world, case count numbers vary. Passengers flying on a, for example, Spanish carrier anywhere in the world? On April 1, 2022, Latvia removed all their remaining entry requirements, along with their mask mandate. British airlines to drop mask mandates as U.K. lifts remaining travel restrictions. How Bad is Flying for the Environment, Really? Swedish PM says 'no need to insult' others. These are the European Union countries that still require passengers to wear face masks on board aeroplanes: In addition, both Austria and Italy require passengers to wear an FFP2 mask or equivalent onboard flights, while the likes of France require passengers to wear a disposable surgical mask or better. 2023 paddleyourownkanoo.com All Rights Reserved. Heres a look at where things stand. The airline will still require masks on its flights to cities and countries where mandates are in place, such as Canada and much of Asia, however. Other protective gear is recommended and appreciated, the airline adds. For flights that require a mask, homemade masks, and cloth masks are not accepted. On March 28, 2022, Poland removed their indoor mask mandate. The only places where masks are still required include hospitals and public transit. CEO Michael OLeary even revealed he would like to see holidaymakers fly barefaced by April or May this year, adding: We are consulting with cabin crew as well, at the moment. The CDC still recommends wearing a mask while on public transit and we encourage customers to make the choice that makes sense for them, Coach USA and Megabus Vice President Colin Emberson said in a statement. Even flight attendants are divided on whether the mandate should be extended again, with some saying that the mask rule is not worth it, given the problems enforcing it, while others argue that the rule is critical to keeping medically vulnerable travelers safe. Wearing a well-fitting masksuch as a KN95protects the wearer, even if others around them are not wearing masks, according to our Chief Health Officer Dr. Henry Ting., The airline also noted the unexpected nature of this announcement and alerted customers that it may take some time to remove all of its old mask signage from airports across the nation. When people properly wear a well-fitting mask or respirator, they protect themselves and those around them, and help keep travel and public transportation safer for everyone, the CDC stated. I dont think its fair, she said. "This in turn takes a toll on their own well-being. However, American was among 10 U.S. airlines whose CEOs wrote an open letter to President Biden on March 23, urging him to allow them to lift mask rules on flights. Moyse said that whether the policy is extended depends on what happens over the next several weeks. Fewer countries require pre-arrival . But for victims living . How to avoid fatal mistakes at national parks, according to a ranger, Its physically impossible to open a plane door. "A scarf or bandana is not considered a face mask.". . All Rights Reserved. Effective laws are exactly what the victims of deepfake porn need. Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Paths latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox. Masks are still required on flights between Ireland and Austria, and between Ireland and Spain. The advanced filtration systems on many planes refresh the air every two to three minutes. From today the European Union has recommended that member countries drop face mask rules for flights and airports within the EU. Commuter trains and subway policies vary across the country, but several regional railway systems are still requiring masks. Are U.S. carriers next? Southwest said it will continue to offer additional layers of protection against the spread of COVID-19, including sophisticated cabin air ventilation systems that use HEPA air filtration to remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles., The other discount airlinewhich could soon be owned by Frontier or JetBluealso announced on Monday that masks are optional. The decision to postpone lifting the face mask requirement can also be affected by a threat of another wave of COVID-19, as ECDC earlier this week reclassified Omicron VA.4 and BA.5 strains as variants of concern, considering that a number of COVID-19 cases with this strain have been detected across the 27-nation-bloc, especially in Portugal. What does These are the European Union countries that still require passengers to wear face masks on board aeroplanes actually mean? This story was originally published in May 2022, and has been updated to include current information. Passengers flying to Spain? Republican lawmakers, who recently sued the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to end the mask mandate for air travel, call the rule arbitrary. But some travel health experts and passengers say airplane cabins and airports should take a more careful approach. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. They are only required at the airport. You could be hit with a $35,000 fine for refusing to wear a mask on a Delta flight. It may be argued that the most effective mitigation measure to date has been mandatory masking in-flight, said Dr. Khatib. Airline's Face Mask Policy, Where Can Americans Travel Right Now? Most of the world still mandates the use of face coverings in indoor environments. Was Your Flight Canceled Due To Bad Weather? Instead, individual countries still get to choose whether to enforce their own face mask mandate for air travel and some airlines, including Ryanair, have confirmed they will enforce mask mandates where they remain in existence. The government now only suggests mask-wearing if youre vulnerable to COVID-19, if youd tested positive, or youre visiting a healthcare setting. Please note face masks may still be required based on local ordinances, the airline said. Unlike the United States, England never instituted a governmental mask mandate for air travel. | Florida travel warning | Amsterdam says stay away | Orlando haters guide | Real-life White Lotus | Misbehavior at national parks | Scariest places | Disney prices, Airbnb: Is there an Airbnbust?' With April 18 less than a month away, Griff noted that a recent surge in infections in Western Europe could deter the United States from dropping its mandate. Passengers travelling in Spanish airspace? Check out our 52 Places list for 2022. Earlier this month, German officials extended the country's current face mask . In February 2022, Aruba made masks optional for indoor spaces. Here's What Experts Have to Say, extended its federal transportation mask mandate, eliminated the requirement to wear face masks on public transportation. Several British airlines have just suspended the requirement, but in the United States, the mandate, to be reviewed next month, remains. The new rules will apply to all domestic U.K. routes, except to or from Scotland, as well as to Jersey, Hungary, Denmark, Gibraltar and Iceland. Which Countries Still Have Mask Mandates? More than half of European Union countries have, however, already dropped face mask rules for air travel. Europe, however, still has relatively strict mask requirements in most areas despite decreasing COVID-19 restrictions. ", The United Kingdoms flagship carrier told The Points Guy on March 2, "We have no immediate plans to change our mask policy, but keep our policies under review and continue to take advice and guidance from all the appropriate authorities.. Once the federal mandate is gone, it will take at least 15 minutes for the airlines to comply, he said. AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site. 2023 AFAR Media, Michelle Baran is the senior travel news editor at AFAR where she oversees breaking news, travel intel, pandemic coverage, airline, cruise, and consumer travel news. An airline such as Emirates or Etihad or Qatar, with as many flights as they have that could be more of a burden on them, he said. The change took effect on Monday, 16th May although not every EU member state fell in line with the recommendation. Griff said Canada could act faster than the United States, given its recent decision to drop testing requirements for vaccinated travelers. Related: We flew 4 major European airlines and their mask policies confused the hell out of us. Ar; Es; News Politics Economy Sports Arts&Culture Health . He is keeping an eye on places such as France, Spain and Germany countries with big flag carriers to see what happens on those flights.. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Air travel has been one of the last holdouts for strict pandemic mask requirements. In recent weeks, case numbers have dipped to their lowest level since June in the United States. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. All states in the United States have ended the mask mandate. It was very unsettling, said Rebecca Kift, 37, a clinical biochemist from Leeds, England, who had no idea that the British airline TUI Airways Limited had lifted its mask requirement until she boarded her flight to Manchester from Spains Gran Canaria island last Monday. Read more: How Wearing a Mask Can Help Protect You Even If No One Else Wears One. Current mask policy: The Dutch government eliminated the requirement to wear face masks on public transportation on March 23, but still requires face masks to be worn on airplanes and in airports. For example, Alberta scrapped the legal requirement to wear masks in all indoor areas other than hospitals. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Dear Tripped Up, My wife and I are both fully vaccinated and we're planning to visit Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and France next month. Icelands mask mandate was removed on February 25 with their official government site stating Masks are not mandatory anywhere. 1) Iberia Iberia is one of the few airlines in Europe that is still requiring masks for passengers. However, as per U.K. government guidance, we recommend that you continue to wear a face mask in these spaces, and you will need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination.. Canceling a trip for safety reasons does not count against a drivers cancellation rate., Lyft also announced a similar message. The Hawaiian governor said: Were committed to moving the state forward and learning to live with Covid, However, the U.S. government still mandates the use of face coverings on public transport, including airplanes and trains. Since March 27, easyJet passengers traveling to countries where it is not a legal requirement to wear face coverings in public places can fly barefaced for the first time since July 2020, the airline announced. And if you ever feel uncomfortable, you can always cancel the trip., Andrew Hasbun, head of safety communications at Uber, confirmed to TIME that users who cancel a trip for safety reasons would not incur a cancellation fee. "Masks are now optional on domestic flights, however, certain airports or countries may still require masks, so check the policy at your destination prior to departure and we'll see you in the sky." United will stop requiring masks on domestic flights, it announced Monday, but they will be required on flights into countries where mandates remain in place. Is it time to rethink COVID-19 travel mandates in the US? The letter went on: The high level of immunity in the U.S., availability of high-quality masks for those who wish to use them, hospital-grade cabin air, widespread vaccine availability and newly available therapeutics provide a strong foundation for the Administration to lift the mask mandate and predeparture testing requirement. They are not the first airlines to permit bare faces. Customers of course remain free to wear them if they choose, the airline said in a memo to employees. Detours with locals. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. On Monday, over 7,500 positive COVID-19 cases were reported in New York City. @Richard Berry, Particularly in Europe? However, KLM has vowed to stop enforcing its mask policy, telling local news outlet RTL News it was "disappointing that the use of face masks during boarding and during the entire flight is still being considered by the Dutch government, while this has been abandoned everywhere in the Netherlands.". the other countries that still require face masks on flights are: Portugal . Countries all around the world have started to relax COVID-19-related protocols and ease border restrictions, and many times that includes mask rules. As for U.S. airlines flying to Europe, masks are required on flights to the 15 listed countries above but are not required after departure from those countries. As of March 23, 2022, the Netherlands has removed mask mandates almost entirely. The airline also requires masks on flights to destinations where they haven't been able to "clarify the local restrictions.". Now visitors can go mask-less in both indoor and outdoor settings, with the exception of hospitals. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. However, heres what the company says about that: You need to keep your mask on throughout the flight, too, when youre not eating or drinking, as well as any other PPE requirements for your destination.. Travellers to Austria, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Malta, Estonia, Luxembourg, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Italy, Latvia, and Spain, regardless of travelling internationally or domestically, remain subject to wearing a face mask while reaching these destinations. Masking requirements differ by international destination, and the . From March 23, KLM announced it will no longer enforce the wearing of masks on its flights, despite the Dutch government's refusal to lift mask-wearing rules on public transport. Riders of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City (M.T.A., which operates the citys subways and buses) as well as Los Angeles Metro and Chicago CTA, for instance, must wear masks while in transit. . The remaining areas, like hospitals and public transit, are expected to be removed after easter weekend in mid-April. Under 3 is absolutely unrealistic to do the entire time, said Amanda Pendarvis Lacy, 31, who got kicked off a plane with her then 2-year-old son in September after he repeatedly pulled down his mask. Can you please update this list for fall/winter as I know some countries have brought masks back, particularly in Europe. In keeping with our commitment to creating a welcoming environment for everyone who travels with us, customers and team members may choose to continue to wear masks at their own discretion.. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Other carriers, such as easyJet have made similar announcements for U.K. travel, and major travel hubs such as Londons Heathrow Airport, as well as Danish airports, recently scrapped their face-covering rules. continues to strongly recommend wearing a mask on public transit, the airline said. . July is the ideal month to enjoy summer at its fullest. The key issue for us is that people are comfortable to go back onboard our aircraft.. Indoor masks are no longer needed in France, with the exception of public transit and health care institutions. Not just any mask, though, but one with "two-layered secured cloth that completely covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly to the sides of your face and under your chin." Masking is also still required by some airlines that fly in South America. Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Alaska is also requiring customers to wear masks at each of the international airports it serves: five in Canada, eight in Mexico and two in Costa Rica. Mask mandates are still recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to allow more time to study BA.2 variant of omicron, which is now responsible for the vast majority of cases in the U.S, though the CDC will not enforce it and allows airlines and regional transit systems to decide their own mask policies. Last week, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways also announced plans to drop their mask requirements, after Jet2 became the first British airline to remove the requirement. However, many countries treat all travelers the same, regardless of vaccination status, and have eliminated entry requirements as a result. Jet2 also has abolished the requirement for a face mask for domestic flights within the UK, while Norwegian, although it has lifted the restriction, advises passengers to check the policies of their destination country before travelling. Last Wednesday, Europes aviation regulator and disease control agency moved to unwind bloc-wide face mask rules by lifting a mask mandate recommendation for air travel. Other train systems like Brightline, a regional rail service in Florida, and the D.C. Metro are making masks optional for passengers. Some European airlines are no longer requiring masks on flights, so after security, if you board such an airline, they can be removed. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. If they are charged, riders can contact our support team and explain the reason for the cancellation in the app, he said. In the United States, the International Air Transport Association, which represents nearly 300 airlines, and the U.S. Travel Association, an industry group, have been lobbying the White House not to extend the mandate further, saying its difficult to rationalize mask rules in the sky, given that authorities have already lifted them in other indoor locations.