KLM Will Stop Enforcing Face Mask Requirement

We have had to wear masks on planes for the past couple of years. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are the first global airlines to lift these restrictions.

The airline isn't allowed to lift its mask requirement, but it does plan to stop wearing masks.

KLM’s March 23 face mask policy change

The Netherlands is about to relax some of its restrictions. As of Wednesday, March 23, 2022, face masks are no longer required on public transportation. The country will require airline passengers to wear face coverings.

It isn't fair that airlines are being treated differently. It has been argued that airlines have better air circulation than other indoor spaces, yet airplanes will be the only form of transportation where mask wearing will be required.

While they can't lift the current face mask requirement, the Dutch airlines plan to stop enforcing it as of tomorrow. From March 23, the airline will no longer monitor this and will recommend that passengers wear a face mask.

This is going to be challenging

I think the boycott from Dutch airlines is being done in hopes of changing the government's policy, which is that there is no reason to have a policy if it isn't going to be enforced.

This presents a tricky situation for those who are still in favor of wearing masks on planes.

• KLM is continuing to officially state that masks must be worn on planes
• However, if someone doesn’t wear their mask for some portion of the flight, they allegedly won’t be told they have to wear it
• Then there’s the question of whether masks will be enforced on flights to & from destinations that have federal mask mandates, like the United States
• Those who are in favor of masks are probably boarding KLM flights expecting that other passengers will be masked, and could grow frustrated if they find nearby passengers aren’t wearing masks, and the crew isn’t doing anything about it

I think the face mask requirement for airlines will be dropped soon.

Bottom line

Dutch airlines plan to boycott the Netherlands because it requires passengers to wear face masks on planes. As of March 23, 2022, the plan is to no longer enforce the requirement that face masks be worn by passengers.

What do you think about the approach to face masks?