TUI’s face mask rules on board flights are currently ‘under review’, the airline has confirmed.
The firm reiterated that the requirement to wear them on board for passengers remains in place for now - despite rival airline Jet2 removing them for flights heading out of England and Northern Ireland amid the Covid pandemic.
A spokesperson for TUI told one customer on social media that it will continue to follow European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidance, which states that face coverings should be mandatory for most passengers on board.
The tweet read: “Even though local UK restrictions have now relaxed, TUI airlines continues to follow EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) advice and guidelines with regards to all health and safety measure including the use of facemasks on board our flights.
“Therefore, wearing a facemask on a TUI flight is still mandatory and a condition of carriage for all passengers aged 12 and above unless you are medically exempt.”
But a spokesperson for TUI has now confirmed that this policy is under review, with an update on the rules expected within days.
They told the Daily Record: “Our mask policy is currently under review and will hope to be able to update in the coming days.
“As it stands they are currently a condition of carriage.”
It comes as Jet2 announced on Wednesday that it has removed the requirement for passengers to wear a face mask on board their flights leaving from England and Northern Ireland.
Governments in both countries recently removed the legal requirement to wear face masks in certain indoor settings on public transport.
Travellers have been confirmed to continue wearing them and they must check the rules in the country they are flying to.
Jet2 passengers flying out from Scotland will still be required to wear a face covering on board under the current Scottish Government rules in place.
But this is likely to change from March 21, when the rules on face coverings are expected to be lifted in Scotland.
The Scottish Government last week announced that the legal requirement for Scots to wear a face covering in certain settings will move from law to guidance from then.
Businesses, such as bars and restaurants, will no longer be required to take customer details for contact tracing purposes from March 21 as well.
The Covid vaccine passport scheme was dropped in Scotland earlier this week.
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