Jet2 has become the first major airline to drop the requirement for passengers to wear masks on its planes.
The budget airline quietly relaxed its rules today, telling passengers flying to and from airports in England and Northern Ireland that a mask is no longer mandatory.
A spokesman said: “It’s no longer a legal requirement to wear a facemask at our airports or onboard our planes. However, as per UK government guidance, we recommend that you continue to wear a facemask in these spaces, and you will need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination.”
Passengers will be told to put on their mask for descent and landing and will also be required to wear it in foreign airports and on transfers to resorts.
Holidaymakers over the age of six flying to and from Scottish airports will still need to wear face coverings onboard and on the ground.
Jet2 is Britain’s second-biggest tour operator and the move is understood to have come as a surprise to other UK carriers that still insist on masks being worn.
All other British airlines are following guidelines from bodies including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which say that masks should be worn for the duration of flights, except when eating and drinking.
In January, Neil Sorahan, Ryanair’s chief financial officer, said that the Irish airline, which is Europe’s largest, had no plans to change the rules.
He said: “Masks will be something that will be with us for a while longer to come. If that is the price we have to pay for the next few months, into summer, it’s a small price to pay.”
Sorahan warned that masks would probably linger in a similar way to rules on passengers removing liquids from hand luggage at security. The emergency measures were introduced in 2006 when police foiled a plot to blow up airliners using liquid explosives. They remain in force.
A senior airline source told The Times that the expectation had been that all UK carriers would “act as one” when easing measures.
“It’s a bit easier for Jet2 as they don’t operate worldwide,” the source said. “For carriers that offer the US, for example, such a move would be harder as the rules there are very clear, they must be worn.”
In America, the government is expected to extend its federal mask mandate for flights, which is currently due to expire on March 18. It was introduced in February last year as one of President Biden’s first executive orders and extended in January this year.
Under the order, all passengers must wear masks in US airports and airspace. States are unable to make their own rules.
Most will in the next few days, although some will need to retain in certain routes.
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Jet2 has become the first major airline to drop the requirement for passengers to wear masks on its planes.
The budget airline quietly relaxed its rules today, telling passengers flying to and from airports in England and Northern Ireland that a mask is no longer mandatory.
A spokesman said: “It’s no longer a legal requirement to wear a facemask at our airports or onboard our planes. However, as per UK government guidance, we recommend that you continue to wear a facemask in these spaces, and you will need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination.”
Passengers will be told to put on their mask for descent and landing and will also be required to wear it in foreign airports and on transfers to resorts.
Holidaymakers over the age of six flying to and from Scottish airports will still need to wear face coverings onboard and on the ground.
Jet2 is Britain’s second-biggest tour operator and the move is understood to have come as a surprise to other UK carriers that still insist on masks being worn.
All other British airlines are following guidelines from bodies including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which say that masks should be worn for the duration of flights, except when eating and drinking.
In January, Neil Sorahan, Ryanair’s chief financial officer, said that the Irish airline, which is Europe’s largest, had no plans to change the rules.
He said: “Masks will be something that will be with us for a while longer to come. If that is the price we have to pay for the next few months, into summer, it’s a small price to pay.”
Sorahan warned that masks would probably linger in a similar way to rules on passengers removing liquids from hand luggage at security. The emergency measures were introduced in 2006 when police foiled a plot to blow up airliners using liquid explosives. They remain in force.
A senior airline source told The Times that the expectation had been that all UK carriers would “act as one” when easing measures.
“It’s a bit easier for Jet2 as they don’t operate worldwide,” the source said. “For carriers that offer the US, for example, such a move would be harder as the rules there are very clear, they must be worn.”
In America, the government is expected to extend its federal mask mandate for flights, which is currently due to expire on March 18. It was introduced in February last year as one of President Biden’s first executive orders and extended in January this year.
Under the order, all passengers must wear masks in US airports and airspace. States are unable to make their own rules.
Most will in the next few days, although some will need to retain in certain routes.
The majority aren’t wearing masks anywhere now.
The Country hasn’t collapsed.