BRITS with reusable face masks will be stopped from boarding flights to France due to strict regulations. According to French rules, only disposable masks are allowed on flights, despite reusable coverings being deemed safe by the majority of airlines.
The legislation states: “All persons aged eleven or over shall, on board an aircraft engaged in public transport to, from or within the national territory, wear the protective mask referred to in section I of Article 49 from the moment of boarding.”The masks mentioned are EN 14683 – which are standard, single-use surgical masks.
Two easyJet passengers told local media that they were initially not allowed onto the flight due to not having the common surgical blue mask which is disposable.Instead, one had a reusable face covering while the other traveller had a high-protection white hospital mask.Both were only allowed to board the UK to France flight when other passengers let them have one of their own disposable masks.
An easyJet spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “The French authorities have passed legislation that requires all passengers over the age of 11 travelling to and from France by air to wear a disposable surgical mask and no other types of face masks will be accepted.”
“easyJet is informing customers of this requirement via email, SMS and Flight Tracker ahead of departure.
Ryanair added in a statement: “Ryanair is committed to the highest level of protection for our passengers and crew at all times. Ryanair’s ‘Healthy Flying’ procedures take account of operational guidelines set out by European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) & European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC).
“Ryanair has robust procedures in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew.”
Air France makes it clear on their website that only the blue disposable masks will be allowed on flights, adding: “You will be denied boarding if you are not wearing a surgical mask.”
Most airlines require passengers to now wear face masks for the duration of their flight.
source:thesun.co.uk