Qantas scraps mask mandate for various international flights

Qantas has announced sweeping changes to its mask mandates from today, with a leading health expert backing the change. See which flights will have the rule scrapped.

Masks will no longer be required on non-stop flights with Qantas as of Tuesday.

In a letter sent to staff, Qantas airline announced that they would be removing the requirement to wear masks on non-stop flights from NSW, Queensland and WA bound for the USA, UK and Rome.

A Qantas spokesman confirmed the change and said the lifting of mask rules was made in line with changes made to airport requirements last week.

“For some outbound international flights where masks are not required at the destination, such as flights to the USA, UK and Europe, this means masks will no longer be mandatory on board,” the spokesman said.

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

The changes come after mask requirement rules were lifted from airports last week. Picture: Emma Brasier

Masks are no longer required to be worn by passengers or flight staff on outbound international routes where mask mandates had been lifted by the government of the destination.

For passengers departing on a partnered flight, the new rules will apply on the operating carrier.

Departures out of Victoria, SA and the NT are not yet included in the change, due to the respective rules of each jurisdiction, and masks are still required to be worn.

Qantas said it would make arrangements once it was possible.

The airline does not operate international flights out of ACT and Tasmania.

“The change to in-flight mask requirements on some international flights is an important step in our transition to living with Covid, and we welcome this change,” the letter to staff read.

“The removal of mask mandates for airports and some international flights reinforces that the lifting of mask mandates on-board aircraft in all settings is the appropriate next step, with global studies showing the risk of transmission inside the cabin is very low.”

The letter stated that masks would “continue to be available” in Qantas lounges, boarding gates, on-board and in crew rooms for “those who wish to wear them”.

As for all domestic and inbound international flights, the rules remain unchanged and people will still be required to wear a mask.

Infectious diseases physician and pathologist Dr Peter Collignon supports the mask-wearing changes on flights. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

ANU pathologist Peter Collignon supported the decision by Qantas, saying the evidence didn’t stack up to justify the mandates during flight.

“Mandates don’t make that much difference (in a collective setting),” he said.

“However, they do give individual protection; around 15 per cent, sometimes up to 80 per cent decrease in risk.

Dr Collignon said he was likely to continue wearing a mask on a plane and noted that sporting a pair of specs can also help decrease the risk.

“We’ve been focused on our nose so much that we’ve ignored an equally important part of our body. Your eyes are very susceptible to infection. Any deposits in your eyes go to your nose,” he said.

“There is a risk on a plane, but it’s lower than what most people think (but) we shouldn’t discourage people from wearing masks.”