IATA urges passengers to use face covering

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged all passengers to use a face covering during their journey for the safety of all passengers and crew amid the coronavirus pandemic. The request has been put forward following recent reports of travellers refusing to wear a face covering during a flight.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) guidance for safe operations during the pandemic that has been as developed jointly with the World Health Organisation and governments recommends wearing face coverings as a key necessity during travels in the post-COVID world.


 

Alexandre de Juniac, Chief Executive, IATA said in a press statement that it is a call for common sense and taking responsibility. He shared that though the vast majority of travellers understand the importance of face covering both for themselves as well as for their fellow passengers, a small minority create problems.

He mentioned that safety is at the core of aviation, and compliance with crew safety instructions is the law and said that the airlines appreciate the collective efforts of people who adhere by the rules. He also added that failure to comply with rules can jeopardise a flight’s safety, disrupt the travel experience of other passengers and impact the work environment for crew.

IATA mentioned that a plane ticket is a contract under which the passenger agrees to the airline’s terms and conditions of carriage. It shared that those conditions can include the airline’s right to refuse carriage to a person whose behaviour interferes with a flight, violates government regulations or causes other passengers to feel unsafe. 

Besides, IATA airlines have also highlighted the need to wear a face covering during the booking process, at check-in, at the gate and in onboard announcements. When a passenger fails to abide by the rules, they also run the risk of being offloaded from their flight; have restrictions on future carriage or penalties under national laws.

David Powell, Medical Advisor, IATA informed in a statement that all researches conducted so far alongside the investigations with the world’s airlines, showcase that the risk of catching COVID-19 on a flight is comparatively low. He shared that the high flow rate of cabin air from top to bottom, constant filtering of air through state-of-the-art HEPA filters, all seats facing the same direction and most importantly, wearing a face covering and sanitisation of the aircraft all play a part in maintaining safety. He said that it not just about protecting yourself but everyone else on the flight.

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