BRITS due to jet out to Europe will soon no longer need to pack a mask in their hand luggage as the mandatory measure it set to be scrapped.
Holidaymakers won't be required to don a face covering on planes and in airports in EU countries within days following a recommendation by air safety experts.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today issued an update on health safety measures for air travel, dropping the recommendation for mandatory wearing of masks in airports and on flights.
EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said: "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.
"For passengers and air crews, this is a big step forward in the normalisation of air travel.
"Passengers should however behave responsibly and respect the choices of others around them.
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"And a passenger who is coughing and sneezing should strongly consider wearing a face mask, for the reassurance of those seated nearby.”
The new recommendations are set to come into effect from May 16 – although rules will still vary from airline to airline after that date.
For example, flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage mask wearing, according to the recommendations.
Vulnerable passengers should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules.
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A growing number of airlines are scrapping their face mask requirements for passengers.
But while Covid rules are being eased, some airlines do still have strict face mask policies in place.
Both TUI and British Airways scrapped mandatory face masks on their flights.
Passengers travelling on TUI flights to and from England and Northern Ireland no longer have to wear them.
Meanwhile, passengers flying from the UK with British Airways don't need to wear a mask if they are heading to a country where face coverings aren't compulsory.
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