Throughout the pandemic Luxembourg has followed the recommendations of the ECDC when considering what type of measures to apply or remove. It is likely that the grand duchy will lift the mask-wearing mandate on board flights following the EU agencies’ update. Photo: Shutterstock.

Throughout the pandemic Luxembourg has followed the recommendations of the ECDC when considering what type of measures to apply or remove. It is likely that the grand duchy will lift the mask-wearing mandate on board flights following the EU agencies’ update. Photo: Shutterstock.

Mask-wearing on airplanes could soon become optional after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) issued a recommendation to further relax health measures.

Throughout the pandemic Luxembourg has followed the recommendations of the ECDC when considering what type of measures to apply or remove. It is likely that the grand duchy will lift the mask-wearing mandate on board flights following the EU agencies’ update, which recommends the relaxation of the more stringent measures on airline operations. Those have been motivated by the latest developments in the pandemic such as a growing number of European countries relaxing restrictions and a high portion of the continent’s population being protected against covid-19 either through vaccination or a naturally acquired immunity.

“For many passengers, and also aircrew members, there is a strong desire for masks to no longer be a mandatory part of air travel. We are now at the start of that process. Passengers should continue to comply with the requirements of their airline and, where preventive measures are optional, make responsible decisions,” said EASA  executive director Patrick Ky.

These developments will be to the liking of Luxair, which has long voiced its preference for the lifting of the mask mandate on airplanes.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic situation, Luxair has deplored the inequalities of treatment between the different means of public transport when it came to travel regulations linked to Covid. As such, the airline has always advocated the alleviation of the heavy measures and restrictions applied to air transport,” Luxair told Delano. 

The airline company also highlights that air filtration is carried out on board all Luxair planes: the air is renewed on average every three minutes, getting rid of most pollutants such as dust, allergens, and bacterial or viral organisms.

Even if the EASA and ECDC’s recommendations are applied in Luxembourg, vulnerable passengers will still need to continue to wear a face mask. The EU medical agency defines as high-risk groups people aged over 60, those living in long-term care facilities and people with underlying conditions. Mask-wearing to or from destinations where these measures are mandatory should be encouraged according to the EU agencies’ update.

Luxembourg already for travellers arriving by air starting from 22 April, handing the tourism industry a much-needed boost.

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