The EU Mask Rule on Airplanes – Here are the Countries Still Requiring Masks Onboard

Last week, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced their latest recommendation that the mask requirement aboard airplanes and in airports in the EU could be dropped. This recommendation went into effect today, May 16. However, since the EU nations can still make their own rules, not all eU countries adopted this recommendation.

The EU Mask Rule on Airplanes

For those who were looking forward to flying mask-free within the EU, that hope will be tied to where you are flying. This is due to several EU member states choosing to keep their own mask rule in place, at least for the next month or so.

Of all the EU member nations that the EASA advises, here are the EU nations where you will still need to wear a mask onboard their aircraft (as well as in/to their country).

• Germany 
• Greece
• Italy
• Spain
• Portugal
• Austria
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Luxembourg

This list is according to this article in the BBC.

Remember that, even though the US has dropped the mask mandate, the country you are flying to or the airline that you are flying on can mandate that you wear a mask. For example, if you are flying Lufthansa from the US to Germany, you will be required to wear a mask onboard. The same goes for the other countries on the list.

I am flying from the EU to the US this week via Switzerland so I am curious to see how the airlines actually handle this or enforce it/choose to not enforce it.