COVID-19: Australian mask mandate scrapped for International Flights

As of tomorrow morning, or to be precise 12:01 am Friday 9 September 2022, you will no longer be required to wear a mask on international flights to Australia, based on the advice from the Chief Medical Officer.

However, the health advice encourages travellers to wear a mask to reduce their personal risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19.

Don’t think this entirely removes mandates to wear a mask on international flights, because it still depends on the requirements of the countries you are travelling through or to.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

This now brings international and domestic mask rules into alignment. Mandates have been removed for both. Guess that will mean there will be no free masks or health packs with wipes then.

You all probably know my view on this. Even if there is no legal requirement for you to wear a mask, you still should. It’s better for you and for everyone else, and it’s no more inconvenient than sneezing into your elbow is it?