In Germany, the mask requirement on board commercial aircraft is about to be tightened. At the beginning of June 2022, Austria sent them on a three-month "break". Is the FFP2 mask comeback imminent in the Alpine republic?

Austria's Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) said in the course of the "pause" of the FFP2 mask requirement in many areas, including public transport, that it would come back. At the time, it was announced that covering the mouth and nose would only be paused for about three months. This period expires at the end of August 2022. There are currently no signs that the FFP1 comeback will actually take place on September 2022, 2.

When asked by Aviation.Direct, the Austrian Ministry of Health explained that the further progress is based on the so-called variant management plan of the federal government. This provides for various scenarios, with only the two highest levels providing for a widespread comeback of FFP2 masks. Up to and including Scenario 2, there is no mention of a mask requirement outside of so-called vulnerable settings such as hospitals or retirement homes.

According to a spokeswoman for the Smoke Ministry, the current regulation is as follows: "The general FFP2 mask requirement currently applies in closed rooms of: hospitals and sanatoriums, old people's and nursing homes and places where health and care services are provided".

According to the current information, there will be no mask comeback on September 1, 2022. The Federal Ministry of Health writes: “Reintroduction of the FFP2 mask requirement in other settings is possible if the number of cases increases. The scenarios and the associated measures are recorded in the federal government's variant management plan". The plan mentioned by the spokeswoman comprises 64 DIN A4 pages and can be downloaded if you are interested can be downloaded from this link.

The Ministry of Health also takes the following view: “FFP2 masks are the most important means of protecting yourself and others, as they are highly effective with few restrictions. As a mild and effective means, this measure has a high level of acceptance among the population".

Germany: Lauterbach wants FFP2 masks on planes

The situation is a little different in Germany, because at no time has the obligation to wear surgical masks (also permitted at a higher level) on board public transport been abolished. In the meantime, people are going their own way in a European comparison, because most countries have already said goodbye to covering their mouths and noses.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) was able to assert himself with his suggestion that FFP2 masks will soon be mandatory on board flights to/from Germany and within the country. The corresponding draft also provides for this in long-distance traffic within the Federal Republic. However, the draft has not yet passed the Bundestag and Council. Among other things, there is now resistance from the FDP, which is part of the government.

Lufthansa calls for the mask requirement to be abolished

But even Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, does not seem to be at all concerned about the forthcoming tightening of the mask requirement on board aircraft. In the past, the carrier acted as a real "deputy sheriff" and repeatedly threw out passengers who didn't want to or couldn't wear a mask. For a few weeks now, the employees of the crane and Eurowings have been instructed that the mask requirement no longer has to be enforced for safety reasons. In any case, only a few passengers comply with this.

Now the carrier is clearly in favor of abolishing the obligation to wear masks on board aircraft. Board member Christina Foerster explained to the Bild newspaper, among other things: “We rely on the personal responsibility of our guests. Passengers should be free to decide whether they want to wear a mask or not.

She also refers to the Hepa filter and the fact that the planned tightening of the mask requirement deviates significantly from the international standard - no mask requirement. "In this respect, it is difficult to understand why stricter rules should apply here than in other areas of life, such as in restaurants or supermarkets. Because most other countries are already opting for voluntariness, this German special path is difficult to explain and enforce.