Masks on planes

When are the mask mandates going to end. BA have made it optional. Why are the others not following suit?

Unfortunately in Australia it's not up to the airline or airports, mandates come from federal government.

Most counties have ditched them by varying degrees, some still have them on planes but most are no longer required at airports, the airport requirement in Australia is a joke. Australia should get rid of the mandate completely, if people want to wear them then they should, but that might be a step too far for the sheep in this country.

FFP2 masks mandatory in Italy on flights and internal trains until 16 June. The policy is rigorously enforced. Applies to all flights entering or departing irrespective of source or destination. A small price to pay to get to Sorrento!

I agree, it may be onerous, but the number of people coughing around on my recent JNB flight, i was thanking that everyone was wearing them. Double protection!

They should keep mask wearing compulsory forever

Lots of respiratory diseases as well as covid spread

In crowded small areas such as planes

You may be fine, but what about the Old Lady Sitting next to you

going to see her grandchildren

If people want to wear masks and have some false confidence there actually doing something, go ahead and wear it. If the mask works for yourself, why care if other people don't wear it ? If it works you have absolutely no reason to worry about if someone else isn't wearing it. The last thing anyone needs on a 14hr flight is being forced to breathe in your own air. Absolutely disgusting the fed's are still mandating this bs.

Let people make their own choice, no mandates needed.

I am against most of the restrictions which have been imposed on us over the last 2 years but I always used to get a cold after flying internationally and may continue to wear one if I am sitting close to people and especially if lots of coughing nearby. But that should be my decision not a mandated decision.

Also agree that people should be able to make their own choice.

I have completed a number of international trips this year including very recently 8 flights on a Singapore, Malaysia and India business trip. I have been wearing N95 masks on all of these flights without a hint of a sniffle while people not too far away from me on some flights have been clearly unwell. Jury is out on whether I would have succumbed to illness if I was not wearing a mask but having been sick on busy business trips in the past, the inconvenience of wearing a mask in a crowded environment such as a plane or train is very minor.

Agree time to ditch them - we are maskless in every other aspect of life here in Australia (crowded bar sure no worries, crowded no problem at all but as soon as we hop onto an airplane we must mask up.

I don't see the point - you can catch Covid in your local woolies unmasked or sit through a 2 - 3 hour movie in a cinema unmasked next to hundred of strangers so why bother on an airplane?

The same goes for the poison prick. It is only harming those who succumb.

Simple the old lady can wear a mask and then she is protected...

Exactly! If the old lady has made the decision to fly, it is not our responsibility to mask up for her benefit.

Using your logic why not extend this to all areas of our life?

You know why because its not practical - same as reducing the speed limit down to 10 kph (we would save tons of lives but it again it's not practical (not to mention the environmental impact from single-use masks - also reuseable ones carry more germs if not washed regularly)

Some comments compare plane situation with supermarket/other public areas but I would suggest there are far less space per square area for people in the plane, where people are practically rubbing shoulders most of the time for at least 90 mins for most flights.

I don’t think anyone I know of here spend 60 mins at the supermarket all time in close proximity (we are talking about less than half a metre here) or even physical contact with strangers.

Furthermore pax in planes do not have a choice to get out of the planes when they don’t feel comfortable during the flight, whereas people in supermarket and cinema can do so anytime.

Generally mask are more effective in stopping infectious people from spreading by coughing/sneezing large droplets but not aerosols, mask are not as good in protecting those who are not infectious from aerosols but definitely better than nothing.

Those who choose not to wear mask whenever the mandate is removed, are welcomed to do so, but let’s not pretend the situation in crowded planes is no different from other public spaces.