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IATA-Put on a mask or face the consequences
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is appealing to airline passengers to wear a face covering during their flight or risk facing the consequences, which could include refusal of carriage, being banned from future flights, or penalties under national laws.
Wearing a face covering is recommended under the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s guidance for safe operations during the coronavirus pandemic, which is now being used by most global airlines to establish new policies and procedures as they resume flights.
According to IATA, there have recently been reports of travellers refusing to wear a mask during flights, with some incidents becoming violent and resulting in “costly and extremely inconvenient diversions to offload these passengers”.
Under their Conditions of Carriage, which all customers agree to by purchasing a ticket, airlines have the right to refuse carriage to passengers whose behaviour interferes with a flight, violates government regulations, or causes other passengers to feel unsafe. IATA pointed out that customers are clearly told about the need to wear a face covering during the booking process, at check-in, at the gate and in on-board announcements.
IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac commented: “This is a call for common sense and taking responsibility. The vast majority of travellers understand the importance of face coverings both for themselves as well as for their fellow passengers, and airlines appreciate this collective effort. But a small minority create problems. Safety is at the core of aviation, and compliance with crew safety instructions is the law. Failure to comply can jeopardise a flight’s safety, disrupt the travel experience of other passengers and impact the work environment for crew.”
Dr David Powell, IATA’s medical advisor, added: “The research we have seen to date, and our own investigations with the world’s airlines, tells us that the risk of catching Covid-19 on a flight remains very low. There appears to be a number of factors supporting that. The high flow rate of cabin air from top to bottom, constant filtering of air through state-of-the-art HEPA filters, the fact that all seats face the same direction and of course wearing a face covering and sanitisation of the aircraft all play a part.”
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