Photos from a government plane, on which no one wears a mask, are currently causing a stir. Although no rules are apparently broken, the question arises as to whether the mask requirement that otherwise applies on trains and planes is still up to date.
After the fuss about a government flight with passengers without corona masks, government protection requirements for all air travel are also being discussed. FDP faction deputy Alexander Graf Lambsdorff wrote on Twitter that after these pictures, the mask requirement in "normal" airplanes could not remain. The Air Force, as the operator of the government aircraft, made it clear that Corona-tested passengers are free to wear a mask there. The cabinet wants to launch the new corona protection rules for the fall this Wednesday - they also provide for a mask requirement on airplanes.
The criticism was triggered by images from on board a government jet with which Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the SPD and Economics Minister Robert Habeck from the Greens had flown to Canada. More than 80 passengers, including 25 media representatives, were on board the Air Force Airbus A340 on the flight from Berlin to Montreal on Sunday. Recordings show Habeck and journalists close together without mouth and nose protection.
According to the federal government, this did not violate the rules for this flight: "There is no mask requirement on Air Force flights. All participants in the trip must present a current negative PCR test before departure. This ensures a high level of protection," said a government spokesman Inquiry.
A spokesman for the Air Force explained when asked about the ministry responsible for the respective trip: "The user ensures that the delegation has tested passengers. Wearing a mask is only recommended." He added: "A squadron order regulates the hygiene measures on board the flight readiness service. This takes into account the current situation and is constantly updated." The readiness to fly is in constant contact with experts in order to react to changes in the situation.
The Federal Foreign Office said the department had not yet changed its internal guidelines for wearing masks when Minister Annalena Baerbock traveled. For all delegation participants, masks must be worn in all means of transport.
In general, masks are mandatory for passengers and staff nationwide for airplanes - as well as for long-distance trains. Air transport may only be used if an FFP2 mask or medical mask is worn during transport, as stipulated in paragraph 28b of the Infection Protection Act. Children under the age of six are exempt from the obligation.
The Corona regulations for autumn and winter should come to the cabinet on Wednesday. The concept presented in advance still provides for a nationwide obligation to wear masks on airplanes and long-distance trains. In connection with the fuss surrounding the government flight, Lufthansa made it clear that the general obligation to wear masks continues to apply on its flights to and from Germany.
"A negative PCR test does not exempt you from wearing a mask," said Lufthansa's social media team when asked by Twitter users. The crews are obliged to inform all passengers of the obligation to carry them, explained a company spokesman in Frankfurt. Masks should only be removed for a short time, for example to eat and drink. However, Lufthansa had declared in May that, for safety reasons, it would no longer use all means to enforce the mask requirement, which had already been abolished in many other countries.
In general, the German aviation industry called for a waiver of the mask requirement on board as early as spring. Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing from the FDP had also campaigned for this at the time.
