Forget those cute masks that coordinate with your outfit. It’s looking like travel - at least by air - will start requiring much more protection and much less style.
Just when many people were starting to embrace fabric masks as a necessary evil that could also be a fashion accessory, a growing list of airlines is banning fabric masks in favour of their higher-rated, but much less stylish, surgical masks.
Open Jaw reported last week that pax choosing masks for travel should look to “European air carrier policies for the best masks to choose for flying. Germany and France both recommend that citizens wear medical-grade, FFP, or N95 masks on all forms of public transport based on several studies. This is because these masks have a tight weave and a gap-free fit that filters out most particles.”
Finnair has become the latest airline that requires surgical masks, announcing that pax would no longer be allowed to board wearing fabric masks.
"We accept surgical masks, FFP2 or FFP3 respirator masks without a valve or other valve free masks with the same standard (N95),” a statement by the airline clarified. “Please note that we do not accept masks made of fabric, face shields, masks with a valve or scarves used as a mask, as they allow air to escape and do not provide comparable protection. Kids under 7 years old don’t need to wear a mask. However, please be advised that on our flights to/from the USA, all passengers above the age of 2 must wear a mask."
Other international airlines that have surgical mask policies include Air France, Swissair, Croatia Airlines, Germany’s Lufthansa and currently the only other non-European carrier, Chile’s LATAM Airlines.
Finnair’s statement said fabric masks were banned as "they allow air to escape and do not provide comparable protection." Passengers are also expected to bring their own masks when traveling on the airline.
In North America, surgical masks are not easy to obtain, as they are prioritized for medical and front-line workers. American authorities have recommended doubling up on fabric masks (although that’s likely to be very stuffy especially on a long flight) and also using tightly-woven/ opaque fabric masks with a tight fit that has no gaps.
Meanwhile, it appears too many American pax won’t even wear simple fabric or disposable masks, let alone surgical ones. Open Jaw reported late last week that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has hit a new milestone of over USD $1million in fines issued against unruly air passengers. The FAA noted that many of the ‘air rage’ incidents on American commercial airlines in recent months involved violations of the U.S. federal mask mandate and violent responses to flight crew demands they be worn.
The growing requirement for surgical masks onboard flights is yet another new hurdle - in addition to testing and documentation - intrepid travellers will need to overcome in order to begin travelling again.
