Face masks now a personal choice onboard transatlantic flights

As we learn to live with COVID-19 and with the legal requirement to wear a face mask removed in England (and Scotland since 18 April 2022), face masks onboard will be a personal choice, where regulations allow. 

Following the ruling of a United States district court judge on Monday 18 April, the Biden administration has announced that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer enforce the federal mandate requiring masks onboard aircraft.

Effective immediately (Tuesday 19 April 2022), face masks will be a personal choice for our customers and people travelling in either direction between the UK and the United States. This aligns with our existing mask policy on routes where international regulations around mask-wearing do not apply, such as between the UK and the Caribbean.

We encourage everyone to be respectful of fellow passengers’ mask preferences, with masks still available for those wishing to wear them. Across our network we continue to adhere to all regulatory requirements, recognising that mask requirements differ by market.

Customers may be asked to wear a mask when boarding or disembarking flights, according to the regulations of the departure or arrival airport or destination country / US state.

 

Routes where face masks onboard are a personal choice:

Services to or from the USA, Johannesburg, Pakistan, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, The Bahamas, Jamaica, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Tel Aviv, Delhi, Lagos, Mumbai. 

 

Routes where face masks onboard must be worn:

Currently none of our destinations mandate face masks to be worn, however it is recommended inflight for flights to Shanghai and is mandatory to wear a surgical mask as the aircraft doors open in Shanghai and through the terminal.