Ryanair has announced that it will be dropping face mask rules on its flights to EU countries from next week.
The news comes after the EU has announced that face masks will no longer be mandatory on flights and in airports, with the new rules set to kick off on May 16 (Monday).
Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said: "We welcome this rule relaxation from EASA and the ECDC effective from Monday, 16th May next. From that date, face masks will be optional on all Ryanair flights except those flights to/from the 15 EU States where masks remain mandatory on public transport.
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"We expect these States to relax their face mask rules over the coming days in line with these new health guidelines from EASA and the ECDC. Intending passengers can check the latest EU face mask regulations on the Re-Open EU website.”
There are 15 countries on Ryanair's schedule which still require mandatory face masks on public transport including some popular holiday hotspots such as France, Spain, Greece and Italy (you can see the full list below).
Ryanair routes where face masks are still mandatory
- Austria
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
Estonia
France
Germany
Greece
Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxemburg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Spain
While the EU is scrapping mandatory face masks, authorities are still encouraging passengers to wear them as a precautionary measure.
Announcing the news earlier today, 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. And a passenger who is coughing and sneezing should strongly consider wearing a face mask, for the reassurance of those seated nearby."
Vulnerable passengers are also being urged to wear a face mask regardless of the rules, while all travellers are also encouraged to observe social distancing measures in indoor areas.
Face mask rules can change in a destination due to the nature of a pandemic. Always check the latest Foreign Office travel advice before booking a trip and speak to your airline if you're unsure of the rules.
Do you think face masks should be mandatory on flights? Let us know in the comments below.
