The European Union will no longer require the use of masks on planes and airports, the agency that regulates air transport in the bloc said on Wednesday. The suspension begins to take effect next Monday (16).
Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), said in a statement that the move is “a big step towards the normalization of air transport” on the continent. Countries such as Italy, France and Bulgaria, which are part of the EU, have already been promoting flexibilization of health rules in this regard, overturning the mandatory use of masks in public transport.
Ky stressed, however, that the item remains one of the best ways to protect against the transmission of the coronavirus, especially for vulnerable people. “A passenger who is coughing or sneezing should consider wearing a mask to reassure those sitting nearby.”
EASA states that the rules on the subject “will continue to evolve after that date [segunda-feira]depending on the airlines”, and that companies in the sector should adopt a strategy defined by the agency as pragmatic.
As an example, the use of a mask will be recommended for flights to or from places that require its use on public transport. “Passengers must behave responsibly and respect the decisions of those around them,” the statement said.
IATA, the world’s leading airline association, welcomed the new EU protocol, saying it gives travelers “the freedom to choose whether or not to wear a mask”, said Willie Walsh, its director general.
“[Os passageiros] can travel with peace of mind knowing that many of the features of the plane’s cabin, such as the high frequency with which the air is changed and the high efficiency filters, make it one of the safest places [em relação à contaminação pelo coronavírus]”, he stated.
The agency also asked travelers to be respectful of the decision of others who prefer to continue to wear masks voluntarily – even though the numbers are more controlled on the continent, countries like France and Germany maintain high rates of transmission of Covid.
Analysts estimate that the easing can help the tourism sector, one of the most impacted by the restrictions imposed to stop the pandemic, to resume a certain normality in Europe. On the eve of summer in the northern hemisphere, the European air traffic supervision body expects volume to return to a level equivalent to 95% of 2019 activity – despite the effects of the Ukrainian War, oil prices and inflation.
IATA admitted, however, that in the international context the picture is more complex. “Although the European protocol comes into force next week, there is no consistent global strategy regarding the use of masks on board aircraft,” Walsh said.
US judge suspended masks on flights
In the US, the end of mandatory use of masks on flights and other means of transport by a court decision generated intense debate last month.
On April 18, a federal judge overturned the government’s decision to continue to require the use of masks in public transport, including air transport, prompting the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to lift the requirement. The magistrate argued that the health authorities were exceeding their powers by making the protective accessory mandatory.
That same night, major airlines — which have mostly required masks since early 2020 — changed their rules, and rail company Amtrak followed suit. The Justice Department said it would appeal the decision, but so far has not contested the action. The deadline for making an appeal expires on May 31.
Last week, the government-linked Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that travelers continue to wear masks on planes, trains and airports. Travelers surveyed by Reuters, however, empirically said that 10% or less of passengers had the item on their flights.
Over the course of the pandemic, mandatory masking has been an especially contentious issue on planes, with airline employees having faced reluctance from many people, some even responding truculently.
The agency responsible for air transport security in the United States, the FAA, has recorded 744 incidents related to the use of masks since the beginning of the year.
“There is an absolute sigh of relief from our teams, but there are also people who are really concerned,” CWA Flight Crew Association President Sara Nelson told US media at the time of the court ruling. She said the union would not take a position on the matter as its members were divided.
