Aviation Ministry to uplift Face Mask restrictions for passengers flying by cheap international flight tickets

Latest update on face masks during flights

In its most recent order, the civil aviation ministry stated that no penalties were required for not wearing face masks, but added that passengers flying by cheap international flight tickets should still preferably wear masks and face covers.

On Wednesday, the civil aviation ministry stated that passengers, including those on last-minute flights, should wear masks if possible, despite it not being mandatory during air travel. This recommendation is made considering the declining number of coronavirus cases.

Wearing Masks is no longer Mandatory

The civil aviation ministry issued an order on Wednesday stating that passengers are no longer required to wear a face mask at airports or aboard domestic or international flights. “In-flight statements may now merely say that, due to the peril presented by Covid-19, all passengers flying by cheap international flight tickets should preferably use mask/face coverings,” said an office memorandum issued by the ministry following a review of the Covid rules established in May 2022. The statement continued that in-flight announcements do not need to include any specific reference to fine/penalty action. According to the statement, the decision not to make masking essential aligns with the government of India’s policy of a graduated approach to Covid-19 management.

State Governments on this decision

With the decline in Covid cases, many state governments made masking optional more than six months ago. The Maharashtra state government changed its Covid regulations in early June to make masks optional. However, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reiterated the continued requirement for masks and has instructed airlines and airports to ensure strict compliance. The DGCA note also specifies that passengers refusing to wear masks should be de-boarded before flight departure, and those on board who refuse to comply will be treated as ‘unruly passengers.

Any specific reference to fines or penalties does not need to be announced as part of the in-flight announcements.” The order, titled “Review of Covid-19 guidelines for in-flight announcements on domestic and international” flights including last minute flights, states that “….requirement for mandatory use of mask or face covers during air travel has been reviewed in consultation with health ministry… in line with the administration of India’s policy of graded technique of Covid-19 management response.”

As the pandemic situation has improved, India has been lifting Covid time restrictions such as those on domestic airfare range; in-flight meal and beverage serving/selling; the number of domestic flights allowed; restrictions on scheduled international flights for passengers with affordable flight tickets to India; and testing and quarantine requirements. Now, the travel industry and frequent flyers are requesting the lifting of the requirement to fill out and submit the Air Suvidha form before flying to India.

The full vaccination check should remain, but Air Suvidha is an unnecessary hassle, especially if one has a last minute flights change and forgets to fill out the form with the new flight details,” said a leading travel agent. Since the resumption of scheduled domestic flights on May 25, 2022, following a two-month suspension, authorities have placed scores of passengers on the no-fly list for varying periods due to their refusal to wear masks during Covid peaks. As the pandemic situation eased in recent months, airline crews faced increasing difficulty in convincing passengers to wear masks. With the issuance of a preferable-but-not-mandatory order on Wednesday, the cabin crew can breathe a little easier on flights.

“Some customers continue to complain to us that a co-passenger is not wearing a mask and want us to take action. When we ask passengers, they retort, ‘who wears masks now?’ and we used to get caught in the crossfire. It didn’t seem right to put people on the no-fly list for not wearing masks when the pandemic was over. We used to take action when there were a lot of cases, but now things are different,” said an unnamed air hostess.

Due to the vastly improved pandemic situation, India has now made wearing masks optional for passengers flying by cheap international flight tickets. While it is still ‘preferable’ to wear face masks, air travelers will no longer face penalties for not wearing them. This change has lifted most pandemic-time preconditions for air travel here, though some, such as the requirement to fill out the Air Suvidha form before traveling to India, remain in effect.