Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific the first to abolish mask requirement
When we leave the house, go to work or run all the errands of daily life, by now we know this in addition to clothes, [...]
Qatar Airways
Cathay Pacific
Oneworld
When we leave the house, go to work or run all the errands of daily life, by now we know that in addition to clothes, shoes and various accessories, another thing should not be missing: the mask. The same obviously applies when traveling by air, but as of today there is a novelty. If we decide to fly in first class or in business with Qatar Airways e Cathay Pacific we would no longer have to worry about wearing a face mask, at least in flight.
In this article:
For several months now, we have been accustomed to following several obligations for our own safety and the safety of those around us, but especially on long stretches, wearing a mask over the nose and mouth to several hours is not the most pleasant thing in the world, especially for those with claustrophobia.
Goodbye to masks in First and Business
The best bonuses
The first to adopt this policy was Qatar Airways, followed by Cathay Pacific. Not all that glitters is gold, and in fact there are some conditions to be observed in order to remove the protective mask during flight.
First of all, this freedom was granted only to passengers using the ticket of First e Business Class, which are notoriously very restricted areas, where you can still maintain a certain distance security between posts.
In any case, the mask can be removed only in flights equipped with beds or seats completely reclining in place horizontal which thus allow us to be able to sleep on board. In all other areas of the aircraft, the mask requirement remains rigidly In effect.
Qatar's Business Qsuites
As we know Qatar has introduced a new concept of place in Business, where the chairs are placed in an actual private cabin called Qsuite, the company let it be known that passengers can use the masks "at their discretion" during the flight at their Private Suite, being private spaces closed by panels and not exposed directly to other passengers.
Cathay Pacific Business Class
Very similar discussion for Cathay Pacific, which allows business class travelers to do without a face mask while comfortably reclining in the recliner in bed. Distance from other passengers, cabin privacy, and hospital filters. HEPA for air recirculation and disinfection make sure that passengers are safe and only have to worry about wearing one mask, the eye mask.
Also here the masks must be worn When the seat is in position vertical And generally anywhere else in the aircraft.
Will other companies adapt?
A very courageous choice by Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific that goes against the grain of the obligations we have become accustomed to meeting.
It is unknown whether other carriers will follow this initiative, What we do know is that a good portion of airlines and airports, as well as states, force passengers to prove they are not Covid positive by the display of a test negative before departure.
Some Italian airports also allow swabbing and rapid tests directly at the airport, shortly before the flight, after making reservations and showing up well in advance from the flight.
There are many initiatives by the tourism industry to succeed in returning to normalcy, such as the health passport, IATA proposal, which would allow for the improved tracking.
In general, the campaigns of vaccination are in full swing and we hope to soon put this bad nightmare that has been going on for a year behind us.