Masks may remain compulsory on flights for years according to The Times this morning. Experts have told the newspaper that facemasks will be one of the last coronavirus restrictions to be dropped globally and could remain policy for years.
The Times travel correspondent Ben Clatworthy reports:
Different rules around the world will make it “nigh-on impossible” for airlines to move individually in allowing passengers to travel without coverings.
The Times understands that UK carriers are seeking “international consistency” before changing the policy and will “act as one” when easing measures.
A senior aviation source said: “Until there is a harmonised lifting of mask mandates on flights by governments worldwide it is simpler for airlines to keep the rules in place.”
Neil Sorahan, Ryanair’s chief financial officer, said that there were no plans to change the rules. He said: “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.”
Sorahan said that masks would linger in a similar way as rules on passengers removing liquids from hand luggage at security. The emergency measures were introduced in 2006 when police foiled a plot to blow up airliners using liquid explosives. They remain in force.
What arbitrary nonsense. Covid-19 is nothing if not fair right?. What a thoroughly decent little virus, to refrain from infecting air passengers when they remove their masks during trolley service.
I despair.
