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Corona: Lufthansa sees the enforcement of the mask requirement as a security risk

2022-05-27T11:18:43.969Z


Wearing protective masks has largely become voluntary – but they are still mandatory on board aircraft or trains. However, Lufthansa is now putting their enforcement to the test.


Enlarge image

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on board an Airbus ready-to-fly aircraft in January 2022 at BER Airport on the way to Madrid

Photo: Michael Kappeler / dpa

The mask requirement that continues to apply on all passenger flights that take off or land in Germany is causing increasing problems.

According to the industry, passengers are more likely to react with incomprehension because the rule has been abolished in many countries.

Since the law has not yet been amended in this country, Lufthansa is now reacting pragmatically.

In an internal risk assessment, the group came to the conclusion that enforcing the mask requirement is a greater security risk than allowing maskless passengers to do so.

There are always escalations between passengers and crews when travelers do not wear a mask, which is why the enforcement of the mask requirement should now be checked.

Many foreign airlines let mask controls slip on flights to and from Germany, and Condor and Lufthansa were recently considered very disciplined on this issue.

Photos that showed Chancellor Olaf Scholz in airplanes caused astonishment in the aviation industry - there he was seen without a mask.

It is true that fewer and fewer countries are obliged to wear a mask on board aircraft.

However, not only Germany adheres to the mask requirement on flights.

In other EU countries, too, national laws continue to regulate the mandatory wearing of masks for corona prevention.

These include holiday destinations such as Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy.

When traveling by air, an FFP2 or medical mask must be worn both when boarding and disembarking and throughout the flight.

You can only lose it by eating and drinking.

In Germany, children under the age of six are exempt from this obligation.

In addition to air transport, a mask requirement also applies to trains.

There, too, there are always conflicts with train attendants because not all travelers comply with the obligation to wear a medical mask.

For example, the mask must always be worn in the on-board restaurant when the guest is not eating or drinking.

Large cruise lines such as Aida Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and soon TUI Cruises have already abolished the mask requirement for their guests.

However, ships are not affected by the current mask regulations in the Infection Protection Act.

Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) sees further “need for adjustment” for the mask requirement in means of transport.

According to the Infection Protection Act, this applies to airplanes and long-distance trains for the time being until September 23rd.

Masks must also be worn in local transport, but here the order is made by the federal states.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD), unlike his cabinet colleague Wissing, wants to stick to the mask requirement.

In view of the up to 150 corona deaths a day, there is no leeway to do without masks on public transport, Lauterbach tweeted in May.

The co-governing Greens also objected to Wissing's proposal.

Source: spiegel

All business articles on 2022-05-27

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