The Cockpit Association criticises the fact that Germany continues to take a special path, deviating from the European Union's recommendations regarding the obligation to wear masks on aircraft - at least for the time being. The pilots' union considers this to be "impractical". According to a recommendation by the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the EU Health Protection Authority (ECDC), the obligation to wear masks on aircraft and at airports in the European Union can be waived from Monday (16 May). The prerequisite for this is that the member states create the appropriate legal requirements. France and Italy, as well as Switzerland and the United Kingdom, have already done so. "The expiration of the obligation to wear masks in air traffic was a matter of time. We expect the federal government to ensure that Germany issues appropriate regulations as quickly as possible so that a European patchwork does not emerge. Our passengers are as international as the entire industry; isolated solutions are not practicable. They will only lead to confusion and uncertainty among passengers, both within the EU and beyond. Different regulations would have to be enforced by the crews. We had this difficult situation for the crews in everyday operations at the beginning and at the height of the pandemic and experienced numerous difficulties. Even with intra-European transfer connections, chaos would be inevitable. Conflicts with guests are guaranteed and delays are to be expected. This must not happen again - especially when the travel season is just around the corner," said VC President Stefan Herth. The Austrian federal government is currently not at all thinking about adopting the EU's recommendations. It continues to take the unique path worldwide and insists on FFP2 masks. In practice,