Covid laws have now been dropped in the UK, meaning there are few remaining settings in which we must keep wearing face coverings. Airlines, however, are in a somewhat unique position.
While the UK government is not requiring companies such as easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, and the like to enforce face coverings, the destination country may well be. For that reason, there is a mixture of different policies depending on the airline and the destination or origin country of your flight.
With the busy Easter holiday period coming up, we thought we'd collate all the information on face mask policies for the major airlines in one place. And all this applies whether you're flying from Bristol Airport or any other airport in the UK.
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UK face mask rules
Government advice
First, let's consider what the government says. Its advice says you should wear a face covering "when covid-19 rates are high and you will be in close contact with other people, such as in crowded and enclosed spaces".
An aeroplane would seem to fit that bill, so the advice is pretty clear that you should wear a mask. This isn't the law, though.
Bristol Airport
The airport's policy, meanwhile, is the following: "Customers and airport staff are not required to wear a face mask in the terminal, until they proceed to the boarding gate (unless exempt). Please check the in-flight face mask policy with your airline, as requirements for children may differ."
EasyJet
Now for the airlines themselves. EasyJet's mask policy is that it will enforce mask wearing if either the destination or origin country still requires it.
The airline states: "Many of the countries we fly to still require that masks are worn, and you may need one at the airport, at the gate and during your flight. Masks are only optional on a small number of our routes."
Those routes where masks are optional include all flights to, from, and within England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Isle of Man, Denmark, Sweden, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Hungary, Iceland. and Poland. Any other flight still requires you to wear a face covering, and flights to or from France, Italy, Austria, or Germany require an FFP2 mask.
Jet2
Jet2 says you won't need to wear a face covering if you're flying from or to an English or Northern Irish airport. Scottish airports and flights to or from there do still require a face covering, though.
Ryanair
Ryanair's policy is very clear: "You must wear a face mask / covering in the airport and on board your flight." It goes on to state: "Some countries require this to be a surgical face mask. If you are travelling to/from/within Italy, Austria or Germany, it must be a FFP2 face mask."
Tui
Tui's policy is similar to Jet2 and easyJet's. It says: "Face masks will no longer be a legal requirement on TUI Airways flights to/from England, Northern Ireland and Wales, however in line with UK government and EU Charter guidance, we strongly recommend that you still wear a mask throughout your flight.
"Under current guidance, it is still mandatory for customers aged 12 and above travelling on TUI Airways to/from Scotland to wear a mask throughout their flight unless medically exempt. It’s important to note that you may still be required to wear a mask when leaving the aircraft and once inside the airport at your arrival destination."
Lufthansa
As a German airline, Lufthansa has a stricter policy than most: "It is compulsory to wear a medical face mask throughout your journey with Lufthansa, from boarding and during your time on board to disembarking the aircraft.
"Like our crews, please wear your mask throughout your entire stay on board on flights to and from Germany. Cloth face masks, as with visors (face shields), masks with valves, scarves or handkerchiefs, are not permitted either on board or in the lounges.
"This also applies to FFP2 masks made of fabric. Differences may be possible due to national regulations or requirements of a destination country."
