Company
• New emergency measure regulation of the Austrian government obliges to wear the high-quality protective masks
• FFP2 mask-wearing obligation for passengers and crew on board Austrian flights applies until further notice
• Information campaign about the obligation to wear masks on austrian.com and social media
• “FFP2 mask will quickly become the new travel companion”, says COO Jens Ritter
Austrian Airlines is adapting its General Conditions of Carriage (GTC) to the Austrian government’s new Emergency Measures Ordinance, which will apply from January 25 for the time being until February 3. Among other things, the ordinance regulates the mandatory wearing of FFP2 masks without a valve in means of mass transportation. The obligation to wear masks thus applies, among other things, on board aircraft and at all Austrian airports.
As of January 25, all passengers over the age of 14 must therefore wear an FFP2 mask without a valve (also known as N95 or KN95 mask) on board Austrian Airlines flights until further notice. Passengers are requested to bring the high-quality protective masks themselves for their own protection and that of others. The crew is also required to wear FFP2 masks. Higher classified masks, such as FFP3 masks without a valve, may also be worn. According to the new regulation, passengers between 6 and 14 years of age and pregnant women can travel with normal mouth-nose protection; children under 6 years of age continue to be exempt from the mask-wearing requirement. Passengers who cannot wear a mask for health reasons must present a negative Covid 19 test that is not older than 48 hours at the scheduled start of the trip and provide a medical certificate on an Austrian Airlines form. This can be downloaded from the Austrian Airlines website.
“Travel and health protection go hand in hand. The comprehensive protective measures on board are easily accepted and implemented by the majority of our passengers. I am convinced that the FFP2 mask will quickly become the new travel companion,” explains Austrian Airlines COO Jens Ritter.
In principle, the risk of contracting the virus during a flight is very low. Aircraft at Austrian Airlines and throughout the Lufthansa Group are equipped with filters that clean the cabin air of impurities such as dust, bacteria and viruses.
On the Austrian Airlines website, passengers can find the current Austrian Airlines flight schedule as well as information on traveling in times of Corona, mandatory masks or rebooking regulations. The information is supplemented on an ongoing basis. In addition, passengers can find the current entry regulations for their respective destination.
Please address media requests to:
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES
Press Office
Telephone: +43 (0)5 1766-11231
media.relations@austrian.com
https://www.austrianairlines.ag/Press/