Jet2 has announced that it has dropped the requirement for passengers on its flights to wear face coverings, becoming the first airline to do so. The airline, which has a hub at Bristol Airport, confirmed the move from today.
Passengers flying from airports in England and Northern Ireland were told today that they would no longer be required to wear a mask on board, although a spokesperson said that it would still be recommended, per UK government guidance.
Other airlines are not expected to follow suit anytime soon, however. The move by Jet2 reportedly surprised bosses at other airlines as it was thought that the requirement would be lifted across all carriers simultaneously.
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A Jet2 spokesman told The Times: “It’s no longer a legal requirement to wear a facemask at our airports or onboard our planes. However, as per UK government guidance, we recommend that you continue to wear a facemask in these spaces, and you will need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination.”
Passengers were initially told that they would still be required to wear a face covering for landing, but after social media ridicule today, the policy was changed. Masks are now only required when disembarking an aircraft abroad, in foreign airports, and on board resort transfers.
Those flying in or out of Scotland, however, will still be required to wear face coverings onboard and on the ground. The Scottish Government requires that everyone over the age of six follows the requirement.
Meanwhile, all other British airlines are following guidelines from bodies including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organisation and will not be lifting their rules on masks. According to The Times, many airline bosses were surprised by the change from Jet2 today as it was understood that airlines would make the move simultaneously.
Back in January, Neil Sorahan, Ryanair’s chief financial officer, said that the airline had no plans to change the rules, saying: “Masks will be something that will be with us for a while longer to come. If that is the price we have to pay for the next few months, into summer, it’s a small price to pay.”
It is easier, however, for airlines like Jet2 to do away with certain Covid measures as they don't operate worldwide. For example, in the US, masks are still required in the country's airspace and in all US airports.
The move is good news for Bristolians looking to travel abroad over Easter or in the summer. Jet2 recently established a new hub at Bristol Airport, flying to 40 different destinations around Europe.
The new hub opened in summer 2021, and the airlines said that it would operate up to 56 flights a week to destinations across mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Portugal.
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