Budget airlines make masks compulsory for passengers

Budget airlines make masks compulsory for passengers

Budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet are making masks compulsory for all passengers, with other changes including an end to on-board food service.

Julian Satterthwaite reports.

Any air traveller knows the drill.

But pre-flight safety demonstrations now come with an added accessory.

Face masks.

And as flying resumes, budget airlines say such coverings will be mandatory for passengers too.

Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson: "You know, you will have to have a mask, I think, to get into an airport now.

And we will be insisting on it onboard.

It's there in your boarding card.

If you don't have one, you won't be able to travel.” Planes will also face extra cleaning.

There will be no food service, and on board movement will be limited.

With southern Europe slowly opening up again, it’s hoped such measures will revive holiday travel.

But that could be complicated by some countries’ plans to quarantine arrivals for 14 days.

In the UK that will start on June 1, with just Ireland and France exempt.

It’s something Ryanair has been campaigning against.

"They're pointless because you can't police them.

So what do you do when somebody arrives back from, or arrives into the UK, and gets on the Gatwick Express or the Heathrow Express?

What, do you quarantine all the people on the track and trains - everybody who's on those forms of mass transportation?

Like, it's unimplementable.” Ryanair and easyJet will resume some flights in June and July.

Shares in both saw strong gains Thursday (May 21).

EasyJet was up around five percent by early afternoon; Ryanair more than 6%.

Future success will depend on convincing people it’s safe to fly again.