Germany's mandatory mask rule on planes 'unreasonable' according to German airline reps. Image: Yaroslav Astakhov/Shutterstock.com
According to the proposed regulation, passengers on board planes that are either taking off or landing in Germany will have to wear solely a FFP2 mask in future.
“The German Federal Government’s plan is not reasonable to us. There is no epidemiological basis for such a step,” BARIG Secretary General Michael Hoppe said on Thursday, September 1.
We appeal to the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and Federal Council (Bundesrat) to revise the legislative proposal.”
Hoppe noted that international comparison shows Germany is completely on its own with this decision.
In most other countries, wearing a mask is just merely recommended. In any case, a medical mask has been sufficient there, and in Germany so far as well, he said.
BARIG said that for several months now, mask-wearing has no longer been mandatory at German airports.
“Therefore, it is completely inconsistent that passengers shall be obliged to wear a FFP2 mask as soon as they board an aircraft to or from Germany,” Germany’s Board of Airline Representatives said.
It added: “As a consequence, Germany’s position on the air transport market would be put at a considerable disadvantage in international competition by such unjustifiably strict regulation.
“Furthermore, tightening the obligation to wear masks in air travel is also inappropriate in view of the fact that there is only a very low risk of infection in aeroplanes, anyways.
“This has been evident over the last two years and scientifically proven as well. High-performance HEPA filters and regular complete air exchange in the cabin contribute significantly to this.
“Hence, in May 2022, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had already issued a clear recommendation to dispense with the mandatory wearing of masks on aircraft.”
Hoppe said “Accordingly, a general obligation to wear FFP2 masks can hardly be communicated properly to international as well as national travellers, since they have been exempted from this requirement in many other areas of public life for quite a while.
“Thus, passengers should be allowed to choose for themselves whether they want to wear a FFP2 or medical mask for their own protection when flying.”
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Originally from the UK, Matthew is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at [email protected]
You have to question the sanity of the people who made this bizarre ruling. There is NO positive evidence on which they can base their decision, so it has clearly been done on ‘feelings’. Well, what a great way to run things. Masks DO NOT WORK. They DO NOT reduce transmission, if anything they make it worse. This has been proved conclusively and repeatedly in real world situations. What will it take for these numpties to do just a tiny bit of research? How about they use google? No wonder German airlines are furious, it makes Germany a laughing stock. Whoever came up with this ruling should be sacked because they are clearly incapable of assessing the facts before imposing a personal and misguided (that is being polite) ideology.
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