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ARCHIVED - Spanish airlines put pressure on government to scrap mask rules
On flights arriving in Spain, passengers are still supposed to wear facemasks
Spanish airlines have made a renewed appeal to the government to scrap the rules requiring passengers to wear facemasks on planes arriving in Spain. Earlier this year, masks were abolished in most indoor spaces, but they remain mandatory on public transport such as buses and trains.
And while the remaining Covid safety measure doesn’t apply in Spanish airports, airlines are supposed to ensure that passengers don their masks when the flight is arriving in Spain. Flights departing from Spain are governed by the rules in the country of arrival, so generally travellers only have to cover up while flying through Spanish airspace.
However, anecdotal evidence from many frequent flyers suggests that even this rule isn’t being strictly enforced by foreign carriers.
"Spain is the last country in the European Union where the mask is mandatory, and this generates competitive distortions between the airlines," the president of the Airlines Association, Javier Gándara, complained this week.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday November 22, the president explained that the tough rules imposed on Spanish airlines could be off-putting for many passengers who may be inclined to choose a different carrier.
"The legal framework should never create an advantage or disadvantage between some operators and others. We ask that the obligation of the mask on board be changed and become a recommendation."
The Ministry of Health in Spain has remained steadfast in its decision to maintain the mask rules on all forms of public transport, including planes, and Minister Carolina Darias has insisted on several occasions that the measure will only be lifted once all of the health experts agree.
On the plus side, the Airline Association president confirmed that the upcoming winter season will be even busier than pre-pandemic 2019, with 114.2 million seats scheduled in the coming months, an increase of 4.4%.
Image: Archive
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