Jet2 has announced it will be the first British airline to scrap mandatory face masks for passengers flying with them.
The budget airline made the statement yesterday, Tuesday March 1, on their website saying passengers wouldn’t have to wear masks on flights from England or Northern Ireland.
So if you’re looking for that summer getaway to relax after exams, but don’t fancy sporting a face mask, this is your time to book.
In the statement Jet2 said: “It is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face mask in England and Northern Ireland, including at our airports or on board our aircraft.
“However, as per UK Government guidance, we recommend that customers continue to wear a face mask in these spaces, and we remind customers that they will need to wear one when they get to their overseas destination.”
This doesn’t, however, include passengers wanting to jet away from one of the Scottish airports.
The statement continued: “It’s still a legal requirement for everyone aged six years and over to wear a face mask at our Scottish airports and onboard our planes travelling to and from those airports. This is the case even if you’re fully vaccinated.”
Of course passengers will still have to pop a face mask on when they land if the local laws require them to. But while they’re in flight or boarding the plane, they’re free to make their own decision whether to wear one, or not.
This comes after the UK government announced its plan for ‘living with COVID’, where all remaining regulations set in place were lifted – including the need for self isolation if a person tests positive for the virus.
Some regulations remain in place in Scotland, such as mask wearing, but will no longer be a legal requirement on public transport and indoor venues – although their use will still be ‘strongly recommended’ – from Monday March 21.
Masks remain mandatory on other airlines such as EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways (BA), Virgin Atlantic, Loganair and TUI.
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