Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced that it will no longer require its passengers to wear masks beginning Monday (August 29th), unless they are traveling to and from countries where masks are still mandatory.
This announcement comes after the Singapore government announced on Wednesday (August 24th) that masks will no longer be required in all indoor settings except for public transport and healthcare facilities beginning August 29th.
Masks will also be made optional at Singapore’s Changi International Airport, though passengers who wish to wear a mask on board or within airport premises may continue to do so.
At present, countries remain divided over their mask requirements for air travelers. Countries such as Canada, South Korea, China, and the Philippines still require a mask, while countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Thailand no longer do.
According to SIA, passengers are advised to check the travel advisories issued by local authorities at their planned destination as regulations may change on short notice. The carrier also said that it will continue to update its website with the most recent information on its mask-wearing rules as they evolve.
Over the past several months, experts and industry observers have recommended that mask mandates for airline passengers be removed, as the high ventilation rate on planes means that the risk of contracting COVID-19 on a plane is much lower than the risk from activities such as going to the mall or working in an office.
Other airlines that have dropped mask mandates in recent months include Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, KLM, EasyJet, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic.
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