Face mask problems *

Have you the right face mask?

With Finnair CEO, Topi Manner, the Guest of Honour at the Aviation Club next week (see in this week’s BTN) a question bound to be raised is the use of face masks on his airline.

The Finnair web site is very clear.

“You need to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose from boarding to leaving the aircraft. The mask can be a surgical mask, a valveless FFP2 or FFP3 mask or another kind of valveless mask following the equivalent standards (N95). Please note that we do not accept masks made of fabric, face shields, masks with a valve or scarves used as a mask, as they allow air to escape and do not provide comparable protection. Please bring your own masks to the flights. Children under the age of seven are not required to wear a mask. However, please be advised that on our flights to/from the USA, all passengers above the age of two must wear a mask. You can remove the mask while you’re eating or drinking for a limited time.”

Lufthansa also requires passengers and crew to wear medical masks on all flights to and from Germany – either a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask or mask with the KN95/N95 standard.

Swissair also requires a non-fabric mask and surgical masks are compulsory on Air France and Croatia Airlines.

www.finnair.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Allan Schoenherr, Prague, CZ

The Czech Republic requires FFP2 masks in all public transport and inside public buildings (shops etc and airports). I saw someone being asked at security in PRG a couple of weeks ago to swap their mask since they were wearing a surgical style mask and not a proper FFP2 respirator. We need to remember that even if we are vaccinated that other travellers may not be and that vaccination in itself does not guarantee we cannot contract and spread the virus. Better safe than sorry. The number of articles concerning assault on cabin crew in the US related to mask mandates is very concerning.

Barry Graham, Washington, DC

The fact that you have to wear a mask at all (and be tested) is problematic when a person is vaccinated.