Virgin Australia boss weighs in on mask mandate rule on aeroplanes

The major airline boss has weighed in on Australia’s mask mandate on aeroplanes.

The head of one of Australia's major airlines is hoping the nation’s mask mandate on aeroplane will be soon be scrapped.

Prior to the pandemic, the tourism sector generated more than $150 billion to the Australian economy as more than 9 million people visited the country each year.

As the world locked down, it left more than 600,000 Australians working in the industry to face unemployment.

Now that travel is permitted again, questions surrounding the mandatory mask rule still remain.

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said she hoped the mask mandate on aeroplanes was removed in the “not so distant future”. NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Virgin Australia’s chief Jayne Hrdlicka said she believed the mandate should be removed in the “not so distant future”.

“The reality is that on an aeroplane you're as safe as you could be anywhere because of the quality of the infiltration system,” Ms Hrdlicka told 2GB on Tuesday.

“It is just a matter of time before state and federal governments agree we should get rid of masks everywhere.

“You’re safer in an aeroplane than you are in a supermarket.”

Ms Hrdlicka said the rules should be removed at the same time as those for public transport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

Ms Hrdlicka told Ben Fordham the rules should be removed at the same time as those for public transport.

“We need to make sure that everybody feels comfortable doing it so it should be a blanket (rule) across the country, not state by state.

“All the American carriers are now mask free — it’s your choice. Some passengers choose to continue to wear them and some choose not and that’s probably where we’ll land.

“That will be a great day when it comes.”

It comes as Virgin Australia announced a partnership with United Airlines to expand travel opportunities and trade between Australia and the United States.

It is expected to triple the Australian airline’s reach into USA, Mexico and the Caribbean from Tuesday.