By the time travel returns to normal, several airlines are now restricting the use of masks, banning simple cloth masks and insisting on high-quality, medical masks that are more effective in preventing the virus from spreading. Passengers must wear a surgical mask or other masks that meet the FFP2 or N95 criteria for aerosol filtration.
Finnair is the latest airline to ban the cloth mask, the new standard being a valveless N95 mask. "The safety of our customers and employees is our priority", said the Finnish airline. "Fabric masks are less effective in protecting against infection than surgical masks. We accept surgical masks, FFP2 or FFP3 respirators without valves or other valves without valves with the same standard (N95). ”
The airline no longer requires passengers to present certificates before boarding aircraft for flights to Finland, following the country's decision to reopen to fully vaccinated passengers across Europe.
Fabric masks are no longer allowed during both flights and airport lounges - which some airlines now classify as "everyday masks".
Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines they have requested surgical masks since the beginning of the year, decreeing that only the masks, FFP2, KN95 or N95, stand as masks. They are mandatory at the airport, at boarding, on board and during the flight, but also when leaving the aircraft.
Air France he also imposed the wearing of surgical masks, qualifying them as masks which "Filters at least 95% of particles up to 3 microns in size". "The surgical mask filters both inhaled and exhaled air, filters particles emitted by the mask wearer, and also protects the wearer from drops emitted by another person."
Qantas and Virgin Australia they have been wearing - for a long time - disposable surgical masks in saloons and on board aircraft, although passengers are free to use any mask they want, as long as they comply with the sanitary rules during this period.