CEBU - Local carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB) and AirAsia Philippines announced they are no longer requiring face masks on flights.
The move comes as
Malacañang finally lifted the state of public health emergency due to the
coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
"Philippine
Airlines welcomes the lifting of the mask mandate and other Covid
protocols," said PAL, adding that this is a significant sign of the
normalization of air travel. The flag carrier said it will continue to observe
safety procedures such as disinfection of aircraft surfaces after every flight,
as well as the use of, while HEPA filters and advanced airflow system inside
the cabin.
HEPA is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It is an acronym
for “high
efficiency particulate air (filter). This type of air
filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold,
bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).
AirAsia
Philippines, on the other hand, said it will no longer require masks on
domestic flights, while the wearing of face masks will remain subject to health
protocols in international destinations. Deep cleaning and aircraft sanitation
will still be observed, it added.
“There is no room
for complacency in the airline business. We want our guests to feel secure when
they fly with AirAsia. Although it is no longer a policy, guests, and crew may
still opt to wear face masks whenever they deem necessary,” it said.
CEB also lifted
its face mask mandate on flights and advised passengers to continue practicing
minimum health standards such as disinfecting, hand washing, and physical
distancing when necessary. They are also encouraged to check in online for
contactless procedures. (Maria Cristina Arayata)
No comments:
Post a Comment