Lufthansa Group airlines introduce a mandatory mouth-nose cover

The safety and well-being of passengers and crew is Lufthansa Group’s highest priority. These past few weeks the airlines of the Lufthansa Group have already implemented numerous measures to protect passengers and staff during the current coronavirus crisis. Nevertheless, it is not always possible to maintain the required physical distance of 1.5 meters (6 feet) when travelling.

The Lufthansa Group airlines require all persons on board to wear a mouth and nose protection while boarding, during the flight and when leaving the aircraft. All Lufthansa Group cabin crew with direct customer contact will of course also be wearing appropriate protection. Together we can ensure that travel remains safe even in times of the coronavirus.

This obligation to wear a mouth and nose protection on board does not apply to children up to the age of six years old or to persons who are unable to wear a mask due to health reasons or because of a disability. The mask may be temporarily removed for consumption of food and beverages on board, for communicating with the hearing-impaired, for identification purposes and for other necessary purposes that are incompatible with wearing mouth and nose protection.

Furthermore, the Lufthansa Group Airlines recommended that a mouth and nose protection be worn during the entire journey, i.e. also before or after a flight at the airport, whenever the required minimum distance cannot be guaranteed without any restrictions.

The airlines of the Lufthansa Group kindly ask passengers to bring their own face mask and, for the sake of sustainability, recommend a reusable cloth mask. Of course, any type of face covering, such as simple disposable masks or even scarves, can be used.

For now, wearing a face mask remains mandatory until 31 August 2020.

Lufthansa Group airlines’ recent provision of free adjacent seats in Economy and Premium Economy class no longer applies, as covering the mouth and nose provides sufficient health protection. However, due to the current low seat load factor, seat assignments will be spaced apart as much as possible throughout the cabin.

In general, infections remain highly unlikely on board a plane. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, there has not been any known case of infection onboard a Lufthansa Group flight. The air on all Lufthansa Group aircraft circulates vertically, and, in addition, they are equipped with high quality air filters that ensure an air quality similar to that of an operating room.