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Bloomberg
The European Union is relaxing its guidance for mask wearing on flights starting next week even as many airlines have already abandoned those rules with Covid-19 concerns easing.
Wearing face masks at airports and inflight should be aligned with national measures, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said in a protocol. If either the departure or destination states require the wearing of face masks on public transport, aircraft operators should ask passengers and crew to comply, the agency 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,†EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said in a press release.
The new guidance come into effect on May 16.
The recommendation follows the latest scientific evidence and expert opinion from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Many airlines, including Brussels Airlines, have already announced that they won’t enforce masking rules in flight.