To mask or not to mask, that is the question for airline passengers

Changes to in-flight mask mandates around the world have left passengers, and even some airlines, unsure why masks are required on some routes but not others.

Rules on face masks during flights are all over the shop creating confusion for passengers. Picture: Noel Celis/AFP

Changes to in-flight mask mandates around the world have made a mockery of the “safety” rule with travellers expected to wear them on some sectors but not on others.

On flights to London with British Airways passengers must wear masks from Sydney to Singapore, but can then remove them for the second leg of the trip.

On flights from Australia to the US with carriers such as American Airlines and Delta, passengers must wear masks until the aircraft door is closed but can then go mask-free for the rest of the journey.

Travelling into Australia was a different matter, due to the ongoing federal requirement for masks to be worn by passengers and crew on inbound flights as well as on domestic services.

Some airlines, like Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways, insist on masks regardless of where passengers were travelling whereas others, like Cathay Pacific were not even able to say what rules applied.

Qantas also demanded passengers wear face masks on all flights including to countries where the mandate was no longer in force.

A Qantas spokeswoman said they were continuing to have discussions with state and federal governments on “the appropriate time to adjust mask settings”.

In Europe the aviation safety regulator (EASA) this week walked back its recommendation of masks on flight, in a move applauded by the International Air Transport Association.

The decision came after a US federal court judge ruled the country’s mask mandate on flights was unlawful last month, prompting most major airlines to relax the requirement.

IATA director general Willie Walsh said they took the view that masks should not be required on aircraft, if they were not mandated in other parts of daily life such as in theatres, offices and on public transport.

“We welcome EASA’s recommendation to relax the mask mandate, which is another important step along the road back to normality for air passengers,” said Mr Walsh.

“Travellers can look forward to freedom of choice on whether to wear a mask and they can travel with confidence knowing that many features of the aircraft cabin, such as high frequency air exchange and high efficiency filters, make it one of the safest indoor environments.”

Dr Benjamin Veness who is an executive member of OzSAGE, a network of Australian experts offering advice on the pandemic response, said masks still played an important role in personal protection against Covid infection.

“The different rules for each of the jurisdictions reflects the fact most authorities now expect people to make individual decisions about their risk,” said Dr Veness.

“With fewer people wearing masks, that raises the importance of wearing a high quality mask such as an N95 respirator. Masks with gaps all around the side, especially those made of flimsy cotton material, aren’t going to provide much benefit.”

He said it still made “a lot of sense” to mask up when travelling, especially when boarding and disembarking aircraft, using public bathrooms, or travelling on buses and trains.

“When you’re getting on and off the plane, that’s a reasonably high-risk period because the airconditioning isn’t necessarily run through the HEPA filters at that time, and you’re also quite close to other people, lifting and carrying bags, and talking to each other,” Dr Veness said.

“When you’re sitting down, the risk of getting Covid from someone else in the cabin is lower, but you never know if there’s someone infectious within short range.”

Face masks remain mandatory at Australian airport but operators are lobbying governments for a relaxation in line with other public facilities such as shopping centres, courts and sports stadiums.

There was unlikely to be any change to the relevant laws until after the federal election on May 21.