US carrier United has become the latest airline to confirm new measures; United will make face masks available to passengers, impose social distancing rules and implement new pre-flight boarding and cleaning procedures.
It comes after Jet Blue became the first US carrier to mandate passengers wear face masks onboard, starting 4 May. By contrast, while United will provide masks, passengers will be advised, not be required, to wear them.
United will also block middle seats on aircraft that have them, and some aisle seats on aircraft without them; require passengers to board in small groups starting from the rear of the aircraft; and insist on pre-flight temperature checks.
In Europe, Lufthansa will mandate the wearing of face masks onboard starting 4 May as well, like Jet Blue. Passengers, though, will have to supply their own masks or face coverings, with Lufthansa stressing "scarves are also acceptable".
The rules will initially apply until 31 August, and have been introduced – said Lufthansa – to meet requirements in some European countries to wear mouth and nose cover in public places.
As a result, Lufthansa is scrapping its efforts to keep neighbouring seats free in economy and premium economy "as wearing the mouth-nose cover provides adequate health protection".
"Due to the current low occupancy rate, seats will nevertheless be allocated as widely as possible throughout the cabin," the carrier added. "In principle, infection onboard remains very unlikely."
Wizz Air this week issued a new health and safety video setting out its new protocols on social distancing and onboard cleanliness. It later updated its stance to require passengers to wear face masks onboard.
Wizz plans to resume flights from its Luton base on 1 May to 15 destinations in Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Portugal, Spain and Israel, including Tenerife, Lisbon, Budapest and Tel Aviv.
