Spain to keep face masks on flights despite change in EU rules

Spain face mask rules on planes and in airports will remain in place despite the EU announcing plans to drop its face mask mandate later this month

Brits heading on Spain holidays will still be required to wear a face mask on flights and in airports, despite the EU announcing plans to scrap its face mask mandate for both later this month.

Spain’s current face mask rules mean that anyone aged six or over must wear a face covering on public transport – and this includes flights.

The Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias told local media this week that, although the EU is set to drop its face mask mandate on planes and in airports from May 16, passengers would still need to wear them on flights to Spain and that the rules were unlikely to change in the coming days.

The country has already been easing its face mask rules, with these no longer being mandatory in indoor spaces as of April 20.

Sign up to the Mirror’s travel newsletter for more holiday tips, updates and news.

She told The Local : “Europe says that the use of the mask on flights must be aligned with national regulations and in Spain we only recently decided that in this context it remains mandatory.

“All the measures have to follow a process and therefore we have to advance with caution and proportionality as we have until now.”

While the EU is scrapping mandatory face masks, authorities are still encouraging passengers to wear them as a precautionary measure.

Announcing the news earlier this week, EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky said: “From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport.

“For passengers and air crews, this is a big step forward in the normalisation of air travel. Passengers should however behave responsibly and respect the choices of others around them. And a passenger who is coughing and sneezing should strongly consider wearing a face mask, for the reassurance of those seated nearby.”

Following the news Ryanair was one of the first airlines to announce plans to drop face mask rules on its flights to EU countries, although it said it that this would not include the 15 countries where face masks are still mandatory on public transport.

As well as face masks, there are other rules that Brits need to be aware of before heading to Spain.

For example, the Balearics government has introduced a new six drinks limit for UK holidaymakers on all-inclusive holidays in Majorca and Ibiza, as part of a crackdown on drunken behaviour.

Under the rules, holidaymakers will be restricted to six drinks a day, alongside their lunch and dinner, meaning that you’ll only be able to have three drinks per meal. Essentially, the new rules will mean Brits won’t be able to enjoy drinks by the pool.

• Local Covid rules and travel restrictions can change quickly due to the nature of the pandemic. Always check the Foreign Office’s latest Spain travel advice before booking or going on a trip.

Will you continue to wear a face mask on flights where it’s not mandatory? Let us know in the comments below.