A Guide To Airline Face Mask Policies And Implementation Dates

A Guide To Airline Face Mask Policies And Implementation Dates

Over the last week, many airlines came out with new face mask requirements for flying.  Since many of the airlines have different dates and details, we wanted to provide a one-stop guide to the face mask policies for major airlines.

Air Canada

Effective April 20, Air Canada requires all passengers to wear face masks during check-in, boarding, and in flight.  Air Canada employees are also required to wear face masks.

Customers are required to bring their own face masks

Air France

On May 4, Air France announced it will require passengers to wear face masks throughout their journey.  Beginning on May 11, passengers will be required to wear the face mask.  Crew members are already required to wear face masks.

The airline’s website does not say it will provide masks, so you will want to bring your own.

Alaska Airlines

On May 1, Alaska Airlines announced it would require employees and passengers to wear face masks.  Employees will be required to start wearing a mask at the airport and on the plane beginning on May 11.  The requirement for flight attendants, pilots, and customer service agents started on May 4.

Alaska encourages passengers to bring their own masks, but they will have masks for passengers who forget to bring one.

American Airlines

On April 30, American Airlines announced it would require passengers to wear face masks on board.  The announcement came a few days after American Airlines announced they would require flight attendants to wear face masks.  The mask requirements on AA begins for passengers on May 11.  The requirement for flight attendants began on May 1.

American announced last week it would begin distributing face masks to passengers as supplies and operational conditions allow.  You may want to bring a face mask if you have one, just to be sure!

British Airways

British Airways does not currently have a face mask requirement for passengers.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific announced on May 14 that it would start requiring the use of face masks for passengers.  The policy goes into effect on May 15.

Cathay requires passengers to wear the mask during check in, in lounges, during boarding and disembarking, and while on board.

Delta Air Lines

On April 30, Delta announced it would require employees and passengers to wear face masks at all Delta touch points (check-in, SkyClubs, gates, etc.).  The requirement was implemented on May 4.

Delta encourages passengers to bring their own masks, but they will have available supplies for passengers who don’t have one.

Emirates

The airline informs passengers to bring a mask for their flight.  Emirates also directs passengers to bring gloves and maintain social distancing.

Finnair

On May 12, Finnair announced it will require passengers and crew to wear face masks.  The airline instructs passengers to bring their own mask, but notes you can ask the cabin crew for one if you forgot to bring one.  The airline warns that they may not have masks available.

Frontier Airlines

On April 30, Frontier Airlines announced it would require passengers to wear face masks.  The airline already requires flight attendants to wear face masks, a policy implemented on April 13.  The face mask requirement for passengers takes effect on May 8.

The airline’s website does not say it will provide masks, so you will want to bring your own.

Japan Airlines

On May 8, Japan Airlines announced it would require passengers to wear face masks.  Cabin crew and airport staff are required to wear face masks.

JetBlue

On April 27, JetBlue became the first U.S. commercial airline to require face masks on their flights.  The company already requires flight attendants to wear face masks.  The requirement for passengers began on May 4.

The airline’s website does not say it will provide masks, so you will want to bring your own.

KLM

On May 4, KLM announced it was implementing a requirement for passengers to wear face masks on board and at the gate.  The requirement will begin on May 11, the same day KLM resumes flights.  Flight attendants already are required to wear face masks.  The policy will be in place until at least August 31, 2020.

Passengers are required to bring their own mask.

Lufthansa

On April 29, Lufthansa announced its plan to require all passengers to wear face masks.  The requirement took effect on May 4.  Crew members are also required to wear face masks.

The airline encourages passengers to bring their own mask.

Malaysia Airlines

Since April 23, Malaysia Airlines has required passengers to wear face masks on board their flights.  The airline encourages passengers to bring additional masks and hand sanitizer, especially for long-haul flights.

Qantas

Qantas does not have a face mask requirement for passengers at this time.  The airline said it is practicing social distancing on its aircraft.

The Australian Department of Health does not encourage Australians to wear face masks unless in the room with a sick person, in which case both the sick person and person visiting should wear a mask

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways does not have a requirement for passengers to wear face masks.  However, flights to Canada require passengers to wear the mask.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines announced on May 1 that it will require crew and passengers to wear face masks.  Passengers will be required to wear a mask beginning May 11.  The requirement for crew members began on May 3.

The airline encourages passengers to bring their own face mask (and hand sanitizer), but Southwest will provide one if you forget.

United Airlines

United Airlines was the first major U.S. airline to require all passengers to wear face masks.  Crew members are also required to wear face masks.  The passenger requirement was implemented on May 4.

The airline encourages passengers to bring their own face mask.  But United will provide a face mask if a passenger does not have one.

Bottom Line

The above list didn’t purposefully leave out any airline.  We will try to update as new information becomes available.  But it’s advised that you check with your airline before traveling for the most up-to-date information.