British carrier Jet2 becomes first airline to drop Covid rule on flights

It’s a pandemic rule that has divided opinion. But now one airline has become the first to drop this particular requirement on flights.

British budget airline Jet2 has confirmed it will no longer require face masks on most of its flights.

It is the first major airline in the UK to announce the change after the government dropped the requirement making them mandatory on-board, The Sun reports.

Last month, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson scrapped all coronavirus rules after two years of lockdowns, isolation and testing.

In a world first, budget airline Jet2 has scrapped the requirement for wearing masks on planes. Picture: Getty Images

This includes wearing face masks on public transport.

“It’s no longer a legal requirement to wear a face mask at our airports or on-board our planes,” Jet2 said.

“However, as per UK Government guidance, we recommend that you continue to wear a face mask in these spaces, and you will need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination.”

The mask freedom applies to anyone travelling from England or Northern Ireland.

A spokesperson told The Sun that customers travelling from Scotland aged six and over must still wear a face mask.

And travellers will need to take a face mask with them if required at their destination.

Jet2 will no longer require masks for people flying from England or Northern Ireland. But they will still be needed for travellers from Scotland.

Aussies travelling to Europe should check mask and Covid requirements as they differ between countries, for example, in Spain you must wear masks indoors or when you can’t socially distance.

Countries drop Covid rules

More countries are now dropping Covid rules, such as pre-arrival tests.

The United Arab Emirates no longer requires tests from vaccinated arrivals, along with Italy and Cyprus.

Iceland also lifted all of its Covid travel restrictions, including for unvaxxed holiday-makers.

And the UK has lifted nearly all travel restrictions for holiday-makers, with Covid tests no longer required from vaccinated travellers.

Arrivals only need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form, although it is thought this could be scrapped by Easter.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission