Home / Discover / Travel / COVID-19: New rules on wearing protective face coverings on planes

COVID-19: New rules on wearing protective face coverings on planes

MONTREAL, PQ. APRIL 24, 2020 – Wearing protective face coverings on planes – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers now have to wear protective face coverings when flying with Air Canada. As of April 20th, a Transport Canada directive has made it mandatory – in order to protect their customers, as well as the crew and other Air Canada staff, especially in areas where physical distancing is difficult to maintain. Before even boarding a plane, including at check-in, customers will have to show they have the protective covering. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to continue on their trip. The directives when travelling by air, customers will be asked to cover their mouth and nose as follows:

at Canadian airport screening checkpoints, where the screeners cannot always keep two metres of separation between themselves and the traveller
at check-in
at time of boarding and upon entering the aircraft
when entering the aircraft
when they cannot physically-distance from others, or as directed by the airline employees; and when directed to do so by a public health order or public health official
while on board, customers will be required to wear their face coverings
customers will be asked to lower their masks to facilitate full ID checks as required by Canadian regulations

Here are the recommendations from Canada Public Health concerning the masks:

Table of Contents

What is an appropriate non-medical mask or face covering

Medical-grade masks will continue to be strictly reserved for frontline workers. When worn properly, a person wearing a non-medical mask or face covering can reduce the spread of his or her own infectious respiratory droplets. Non-medical face masks or face coverings should:

be made of at least 2 layers of tightly woven material fabric (such as cotton or linen)
be large enough to completely and comfortably cover the nose and mouth without gaping
fit securely to the head with ties or ear loops
allow for easy breathing
be comfortable and not require frequent adjustment
be changed as soon as possible if damp or dirty
maintain their shape after washing and drying
Wearing protective face coverings on planes plus include a pocket to accommodate a paper towel or disposable coffee filter, for increased benefit. If possible, use different fabrics for each side of the mask, so you know which side faces your mouth and which side is out.

Non-medical masks or face coverings should not

be placed on children under the age of 2 years
be placed on anyone unable to remove them without assistance or anyone who has trouble breathing
be made of plastic or other non-breathable materials
be made exclusively of materials that easily fall apart, such as tissues
be secured with tape or other inappropriate materials
be shared with others
impair vision or interfere with tasks

How to put on a non-medical mask or face covering

Ensure the face covering is clean and dry.
Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before touching the mask
If none is available, use hand sanitizer with a minimum 60% alcohol base
Ensure your hair is away from your face
Place the face covering over your nose and mouth and secure to your head or ears with its ties or elastics
Adjust if needed to ensure nose and mouth are fully covered
The mask should fit snugly to the cheeks and there should not be any gaps

While wearing a non-medical mask or face covering, it is important to avoid touching your face. If you do touch your mask or face, you should immediately wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. You can also use hand sanitizer with a minimum 60% alcohol base.

How to remove a non-medical mask or face covering

Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds
If none is available, use hand sanitizer with a minimum 60% alcohol base
Remove the face covering by un-tying it or removing the loops from your ears
Avoid touching the front of the mask when removing it
It can be placed in a plastic bag temporarily if you are not at home
Make sure you close or zip seal the bag while storing it
If you plan to reuse the mask, wash it before wearing it again
It can be washed with hot, soapy water, or it can be washed with your other laundry
If throwing it out, place it into a garbage bin or plastic bag
After removing the face covering, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. For more information go to this link.

After removing the face covering, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. For more information go to this link.