BYO coronavirus face mask or buy one before boarding, says Rex

Rex said any passenger without a face mask would be denied boarding unless there was an ‘exceptional reason’.

Passengers won’t be allowed to board Rex flights from June 1 if they are not wearing a face mask. Picture: Jerad Williams

Regional Express Airlines will require its passengers to buy a face mask at check-in from June 1 unless they bring their own.

In a move designed to protect against the spread of COVID-19, Rex said any passenger without a face mask would be denied boarding unless there was an “exceptional reason”.

As well as on flights, passengers would have to wear masks at check-in counters, boarding gates and during tarmac transfers including bus transfers.

A Rex spokeswoman said the masks would cost just $2.

Rex operates a regional network of flights using Saab 340 aircraft and has announced its intention to fly more capital city routes competing against Qantas and Virgin Australia in the post-pandemic world.

“As the country prepares to open the borders and lift the lockdowns, we need to be vigilant now more than ever to ensure that we prevent a second wave of infections which would cause untold economic damage and misery to all communities,” said Rex national airports manager David Brooksby.

“The health and safety of passengers and employees is paramount and we thank our passengers for putting up with the inconvenience as an act of consideration for our staff and other passengers.”

He said Rex had already enforced other changes to minimise the risk of infection including temperature testing of passengers and employees.

“Since early March, Rex has endeavoured to space out seating allocation of all passengers to facilitate social distancing,” said Mr Brooksby.

“Unrelated parties will not be assigned seats next to each other when and where possible.”

The announcement came on the same day as Qantas announced new “fly well” measures to take effect from June 12.

These included hand sanitiser dispensers throughout airports, and optional face masks and antibacterial wipes on board.

Qantas medical director Ian Hosegood said it was not realistic for masks to be mandatory on flights.

“We would like people to wear masks for the comfort of others but clearly there are people who cannot wear masks,” Dr Hosegood said.

“It’s very challenging to have small children wear masks and there are people who have medical reasons, respiratory type conditions and some people are just very uncomfortable wearing a mask so mandating it is challenging.”

The Transport Workers Union said employees should have been consulted about the Qantas “fly well” plan, particularly with regard to face masks and social distancing.

“Workers want to be consulted on issues such as making masks for passengers mandatory, how that can be enforced and whether the middle seat would be kept free,” said TWU national secretary Michael Kaine.

“Contrary to government guidelines on consulting with workers on COVID-19 plans, Qantas has failed to discuss changes with workers which will not only impact on passenger safety but their safety too.”