Skytrans and Hinterland Aviation will immediately drop mask rule when government allows it

FNQ airlines still need to adhere to government policy regarding Covid safety regulations, but a recent move by another airline has put the issue back in the spotlight. FIND OUT MORE

REGIONAL airlines operating out of Cairns airport will remove the requirement for passengers to wear masks on flights as soon as the state and federal governments allow them to do so.

Skytrans CEO Alan Milne said his company is ready to move on from the Covid-era safety requirement.

“Skytrans will adhere to the advice of the Queensland Department of Health and will move on updated advice immediately,” he said.

“I know some passengers are concerned with proximity on flights, but the air is refreshed on flights quite quickly. You’re actually sitting in a very clean environment.

“The air on our aircraft is completely replaced every three minutes by air drawn from outside through an airconditioning filtration system that is up to 99.9 per cent effective in removing airborne contaminants. It’s the same system used in hospital operating theatres.”

Alan Milne, CEO of Cairns airline Skytrans, said his airline will still facilitate Covid safety measures such as masks for concerned passengers even when the Queensland Department of Health drops the requirement for masks on domestic flights. Photo: Brendan Radke.

Mr Milne said his airline will still assist passengers concerned with Covid safety to access protective equipment such as masks.

“Once we get a change in direction from the Queensland Government we will still be in a position to facilitate mask wearing, but we do encourage people to bring their own from home.”

Hinterland Aviation general manager Andrew Clair said his airline doesn’t require masks in its terminal but still enforces the rule on flights in accordance with government direction.

“Once we’re legally able to do so, we’ll remove that rule on our flights too,” he said.

Hinterland Aviation General Manager Andrew Clair, pictured here with pilot Nicola Clark and NAIF board chair Tracey Hayes, said Hinterland Aviation will drop masks as soon as it is legally allowed to do so. Picture: Supplied.

Comments from the airlines’ bosses come as Qantas announced it will scrap mask wearing on certain international non-stop flights to Europe and North America.

Masks are no longer required to be worn by Qantas passengers or flight staff on outbound international routes where government-imposed mask mandates have been lifted at the destination.

The new rules came into effect at 12.01am on Tuesday, June 21.

The rules remain unchanged for all domestic and inbound international flights; Qantas will still require passengers to wear a mask.

Kyle Lloyd, who arrived at Cairns airport from Brisbane and has recently travelled internationally, supports a stepped mask strategy wherein airlines set the rules according to Covid transmission rates going forward. Photo: Isaac McCarthy.

Both Cairns locals and visitors feel the time is right for airlines to move on from mask mandates.

Kyle Lloyd, who is visiting from Brisbane and recently travelled from Canada, feels that Covid “isn’t really on the radar anymore” and said it wasn’t much of a concern for him when travelling.

“If the transmission rates are low I don’t have a problem with people not wearing masks,” he said.

“But if transmission does increase … it probably would be a good idea to re-implement mask wearing. I don’t mind changes back and forth depending on the situation.”

Cairns locals Annie and Keith Fleck recently travelled home from Brisbane and want to travel internationally soon. They said the removal of masks would be good for aircraft safety.

“I’m young so I think it’s good that everything is opening up. I think it’s quite restrictive; we couldn’t talk to and understand the people next to us on our flight,” said Ms Fleck.

“I know other people might be wary about that but at the end of the day they can wear a mask if they still want to.”

Mr Fleck is a pilot instructor in Mareeba and said removing masks ensured there were less communication barriers between crew members.

“Overall it’s a positive thing. The cabin crew can communicate. I’m a pilot myself and having the ability to understand your crew is very important,” he said.

Backpacking friends Julieta Franzolini and Leonel Gimenez from Argentina and Valentina Cifuentes from Chile, currently staying at Bounce Hostel on Grafton St, all welcomed the change and said they can’t wait for the world to feel like it’s back to normal.

“It feels like the pandemic never ends, so of course this feels good,” said Ms Franzolini.

“We just have to accept this virus is going to stay with us forever, we just have to live with it. It feels great that Australia is moving forward,” said Ms Cifuentes.

Originally published as Skytrans and Hinterland Aviation will immediately drop mask rule when government allows it