More and more international airlines are requiring surgical masks
Editor's Note
More and more airlines and airports are requiring higher-grade masks.
Starting Aug. 16, Finnair, the air carrier known for connecting flights between Europe and Asia, will require all passengers onboard to wear surgical masks, the airline said, joining Lufthansa, Swiss Air Lines, Air France, Croatia Airlines and others in prohibiting fabric face coverings on flights.
Finnair
Finnair took to Twitter to announce a new requirement for passengers to wear approved masks — specifically surgical masks or valve-free FFP2 or FFP3 respirator masks, in addition to other valve-free masks that have the same standard as N95 masks.
"The mask needs to continuously cover your nose and mouth. You can only remove it for a limited time while you're eating or drinking," Finnair tweeted on Aug. 13. "Please make sure you always wear a mask when interacting with Finnair employees, whether it's at the airport or onboard."
Related: Finland reopening to Americans
In June, the airline launched its inaugural transatlantic flights to the U.S. and Asia from Stockholm, marking the first transatlantic routes the carrier will operate out of Stockholm.
Read more: Finnair set to launch transatlantic flights to US and Asia from Stockholm
Lufthansa
Since Feb. 1, German airline Lufthansa has required passengers and crew to wear medical masks on all flights to and from Germany to comply with a federal/state law passed on Jan. 19.
"From that date (Feb. 1), passengers will be required to wear either a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask or mask with the KN95/N95 standard during boarding, the flight and when leaving the aircraft," the airline said in a press release. "Everyday masks are then no longer permitted."
Read more: Lufthansa's beloved First Class Terminal will reopen soon
Swiss Air Lines
Read more: Great lounge and service: A review of Swiss Air Lines' business class on the 777
In line with Lufthansa, Swiss too has required surgical masks aboard its aircraft since Feb.1, updating their initial July 6, 2020, mask mandate recommending fabric masks.
"The obligation to wear a mouth-nose cover applies to all passengers (also vaccinated and recovered) and staff on board," Swiss currently notes on its website. "On all flights facemasks of the FFP2, KN95, or N95 standard, as well as surgical masks, are obligatory when boarding, onboard, and when leaving the aircraft." Masks must be valve-free.
Passengers under the age of 12 are exempt from this rule, excluding on flights to the U.S., as U.S. law requires all passengers over the age of 2 to wear face masks.
Air France
Surgical masks are also compulsory on Air France, as part of their Air France Protect measures in response to COVID-19.
"For the health and safety of all, the wearing of a surgical mask is mandatory from the moment you arrive at the airport and throughout your Air France flight," Air France says on their website.
"A surgical mask filters at least 95% of particles as small as 3 microns in size, and serves a dual purpose – it obviously filters particles emitted by the mask wearer, but according to the French National Research and Safety Institute, it also protects the person wearing the mask against droplets emitted by a person facing them," says the airline. "The surgical mask both filters inhaled and expired air."
Paris Aeroport, which includes Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY) and Le Bourget (LBG), notes on their website that "only surgical masks are allowed on the aircraft; cloth masks are prohibited." Additionally, masks are required both inside and outside terminals, per the French government.
Croatia Airlines
"Passengers are required to bring and wear medical face protective masks that fully cover nose and mouth aboard all Croatia Airlines flights," says Croatia Airlines, which adds that acceptable protective masks include "surgical masks and filtering half masks (FFP2, N95 or KN95 mask without valve)."
TPG reader Bryan Hawk learned of this requirement firsthand onboard a recent flight from tourist favorite Dubrovnik.
"We were on a Dubrovnik to Frankfurt flight last month and got pulled aside when boarding because we didn't have medical masks on. We had masks on, but medical were required," he told me via email. "Had we paid closer attention to the announcements we would have known this. Fortunately, they provided us with some and we were able to continue."
Read more: Air Canada now lets you earn elite status without flying
Ambiguous policies
Although Air Canada prohibits nonmedical masks, the Canadian airline says "cotton" masks are approved, while TAP Air Portugal recommends surgical masks without requiring them.
Read more: Do your kids have to wear face masks on the plane?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees