Reports in travel media indicate Cathay Pacific has relaxed its face mask policy for first- and business-class passengers (photo: Getty Images)
Cover Reports in travel media indicate Cathay Pacific has relaxed its face mask policy for first- and business-class passengers (photo: Getty Images)

The face mask exemption would make the Hong Kong-based carrier one of the only airlines in the world to not require passengers wear face masks in flight

A new report circulating in the travel press indicates that Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific will exempt its first- and business-class passengers from mandatory face masks while lying down in flight.

According to Executive Traveller, an internal memo circulated at Cathay Pacific last week "advised crew that a mask exemption will apply 'when a passenger is lying flat in business or first class.'"

Travel + Leisure confirms, reporting: "In a media statement elaborating on the softened rules, the Cathay Pacific spokesperson said that 'seats in first and business class are more spacious with partitions, and passengers are exempted when lying flat for sleep.' The individual also emphasized that the aircrafts are equipped with filtration systems 'capable of filtering 99.9999 per cent of dust particles, including virus and bacteria.'"

The first case of Covid-19 in Hong Kong was confirmed on January 23, 2020. Over the past year, the airline industry has ground to a near-halt with international travel declining to record lows. Recently, the Hong Kong government has mandated that air crews quarantine for 14 days after working long haul flights, a move that is predicted to most impact Cathay Pacific, which, hubbed at Hong Kong International Airport, operates the most flights in and out of the city

If face masks are no longer required to be worn by passengers in first- and business-class on board long haul flights, Cathay Pacific would become one of the only airlines in the world to relax the passenger PPE requirement. Since May 2020, Cathay has mandated that guests wear face masks at all times, from arrival at the airport all the way through to the end of the journey. The Cathay Pacific website is still explicit on this point. 

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It reads: "To protect the wellbeing of all passengers and our crew on board, if you are two years of age or older, you must wear a face covering when travelling with us. This includes: during check-in; in our lounges; during boarding; in the aircraft cabin; during disembarkation; and when directed by our airport team or cabin crew. We’re unable to accept anyone not wearing a face covering for travel."

Furthermore, the rules and regulations state: "You must keep your face covering on at all times and only remove it during the short periods that you are eating or drinking." Passengers are only allowed to remove their face masks for extended periods of time if and when they are required to use the oxygen masks "for any reason."