Three Philippine Airlines Announce Cancellation of In-Flight Mask Wearing Order

After the Philippine government recently announced the lifting of a public health emergency for the new coronavirus, three Philippine airlines announced that they would no longer require passengers to wear masks on planes.

Philippine Airlines spokesman Cielo Villaluna welcomed the decision by the Philippine authorities to lift the mandatory wearing of the mask collar, saying it would give passengers more flexibility.

She added: "This is an important sign of the normalization of air travel and a testament to the Philippines' welcome to business and tourism. Although existing health and quarantine measures have been lifted, we will ensure continued compliance with health rules, such as disinfecting aircraft surfaces after each flight, using high-efficiency particulate air filters and advanced airflow systems in aircraft cabins to reduce any potential health risks."

In addition, Philippine Airlines will continue to comply with the rules and regulations of various countries related to the new crown.

Cebu Pacific Airlines of the Philippines said in a statement: "We will no longer require passengers to wear masks, but passengers will still implement basic health and quarantine measures, including frequent hand washing, frequent disinfection, and social distance when necessary."

The airline also advises passengers to check in online to maintain contactless flight procedures and avoid queuing at airport check-in counters.

For passengers who have already checked in online, Li can go directly to the boarding gate if there is no trust, while passengers with checked luggage can go to the self-service counter to check in.

AirAsia said that all domestic flights will no longer require passengers to wear masks, and international flights will be subject to the current health regulations in the destination country.

Steve Dailisan, a spokesman for the airline, said: "AirAsia will continue to deeply clean and disinfect the cabin between flights. In addition, all aircraft have been equipped with high-efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA), which can filter and block 99.97 per cent of air particles, including known bacteria and viruses."

He added: "Although the authorities no longer make it mandatory to wear masks, passengers and crew can still choose to wear masks when they deem it necessary."

A few days ago, the Philippine Department of Transportation announced that it will no longer force people to wear masks and maintain social distance on all public transportation by sea, land and air.