Emirates Drops Mask Rules On All Flights To And Many Flights From Dubai

Emirates Airlines announced yesterday that it is dropping the face mask requirement for all flights bound for Dubai and many others departing from its hub. This will come as a relief to long-suffering passengers who found the masks uncomfortable to wear for prolonged periods of time.

No more mandatory face coverings on Emirates’ Dubai-bound flights

Emirates Airlines is the latest airline to drop the face covering requirements onboard its flights bound for Dubai International Airport (DXB). The Gulf carrier announced the updated COVID-19 policy by means of a Tweet, which depicts an Emirates cabin crew joyfully taking off her mask and revealing a welcoming and warm smile.

The decision to drop the face covering requirement follows the announcement from part of the government of the United Arab Emirates to suspend mask mandates in most indoor spaces.

However, the airline also specified that the updated mask policy applies just to all Emirates flights bound for the airline’s hub in Dubai; on the other hand, for those passengers traveling from or transiting through Dubai, it might still be mandatory to bring their face masks with them when boarding an Emirates flight. Therefore, the airline suggests all Emirates customers should check the latest COVID-19 updates of their final destination.

Although no longer required on many of its flights, Emirates suggests passengers can optionally choose to wear a face covering onboard. Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying

A relief for many, a concern for others

When it comes to COVID-19 and the aviation industry, it is never black and white. While some people think it’s high time the aviation industry rapidly dropped all pandemic-related measures to restore capacity to 2019 levels, others believe the pandemic it’s not over yet, and boarding an aircraft still represents a threat to the health and safety of everyone.

Such conflicting reaction to Emirates’ news is clearly visible in the comments on the airline’s Tweets, with some followers cheering at the information while others imply this might be a hazardous move to make. Nonetheless, Emirates is not the first airline to drop face coverings. Since May 16th, for instance, airlines based in the European Union are no longer required to ask their passengers to wear a face covering onboard their aircraft.

British Airways was one of the first airlines to make face coverings onboard optional in Europe. Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying

However, according to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), passengers must wear a face covering if the country of departure or arrival requires masks to be worn on public transport. Even when no longer required by law, the agency suggests a face covering should be worn at all times when at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Similarly, Emirates specified that, although masks are no longer required when traveling to Dubai and other specific destinations, passengers can optionally choose to wear one.

Similarly, since April 19th, many US carriers have no longer required masks after a federal judge in Florida abolished the transportation mask mandate of Biden’s Administration. The ruling marked the end of a turbulent era for US airlines, which, since January 2021, had dealt with approximately 5,000 unruly passengers who refused to wear a mask onboard.

Do you think Emirates’ choice to drop masks onboard some of its flights is right or a health threat? Let us know in the comment section below!