Iata has warned travellers risk penalties for refusing to wear face masks on flights amid concern that passengers flouting health measures could deter others from flying.
Airline association Iata issued the warning late on Monday and appealed to all travellers “to wear face coverings during the travel journey”.
It noted “recent reports of travellers refusing to wear a face covering during a flight” and said: “This is a call for common sense.
“The vast majority of travellers understand the importance of a face covering for themselves as well as for their fellow passengers. But a small minority create problems.”
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Iata noted a flight ticket “is a contract under which the passenger agrees to the airline’s terms and conditions of carriage” and these “include the right to refuse carriage to a person whose behaviour interferes with a flight, violates government regulations or causes other passengers to feel unsafe”.
It warned: “Failure to comply means a passenger faces the risk of being offloaded from their flight, restrictions on future carriage or penalties under national laws.”
Alexandre de Juniac, Iata director general, insisted: “Compliance with crew safety instructions is the law.
“Failure to comply can jeopardise a flight’s safety, disrupt the experience of other passengers and impact the environment for crew.”
The association noted the requirement to wear a face mask was a key recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) guidance on operating during the pandemic, developed with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Iata medical advisor Dr David Powell said: “This is not just about protecting yourself. It’s about protecting everyone else on the flight.”
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