Face masks to combat Covid-19 will no longer be required on European flights and in airports in a matter of days, it has been announced.
The news will come as a huge boost for holiday-makers as they plan their summer getaways.
The update to the health safety measures for air travel was issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
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Dublin Airport, which has struggled with staff shortages since the pandemic waned, are also set to benefit from the announcement which recommended the relaxation of the more stringent measures on air operations "which will help relieve the burden on the industry whilst still keeping appropriate measures in place".
The new rules are set to come into force from Monday May 16. However, passengers have been advised that rules may still vary depending on airline past this 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, ideally an FFP2/N95/KN95 type mask, the European agencies 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,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky.
“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.”
ECDC Director Andrea Ammon said: “The development and continuous updates to the Aviation Health Safety Protocol in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have given travellers and aviation personnel better knowledge of the risks of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants.
"While risks do remain, we have seen that non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccines have allowed our lives to begin to return to normal.
"While mandatory mask-wearing in all situations is no longer recommended, it is important to be mindful that together with physical distancing and good hand hygiene it is one of the best methods of reducing transmission.
"The rules and requirements of departure and destination States should be respected and applied consistently, and travel operators should take care to inform passengers of any required measures in a timely manner."
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