Birmingham Airport: Masks, Are They Still Mandatory?

Birmingham Airport is one of the UK's top-10 busiest airports, serving as a hub for airlines such as Flybe, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Turkmenistan Airlines, and Pakistan International Airlines. The airport has implemented various measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing, hand sanitiser stations, and plexiglass barriers. While masks are no longer mandatory in the terminal, individual airlines may have their own rules regarding mask-wearing on flights. It is recommended to check the latest COVID rules and airline guidelines before travelling through Birmingham Airport.

Masks are encouraged in the airport but not mandatory

At Birmingham Airport, it is now a "personal preference" whether passengers choose to wear a face mask in the terminal. However, the airport encourages all travellers to wear masks while inside. This is in line with the city of Birmingham's mask ordinance for public places. If you arrive at the airport without a mask, you can purchase one there.

While masks are encouraged in the airport, they are not mandatory. However, it is important to note that the rules differ from airline to airline. Many carriers tailor their mask-wearing rules to the country they are flying to. Therefore, passengers are advised to check the latest COVID rules and the specific requirements of their airline before flying.

For example, for flights to, from, or within Italy, Austria, and Germany, Easyjet requires all passengers aged six and over to wear an FFP2 mask. Meanwhile, for flights to, from, or within France, Easyjet mandates passengers aged six and above to wear either an FFP2 or a surgical mask. Cloth masks, scarves, visors, and masks with valves are not accepted on these flights.

On the other hand, for flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Gibraltar, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, and Iceland, wearing a mask is optional on Easyjet flights. Similarly, Jet2 and TUI Airways have removed the mandatory mask requirement but recommend that passengers continue to wear masks.

In summary, while masks are not mandatory at Birmingham Airport, they are strongly encouraged, and passengers may need to adhere to specific mask requirements depending on their airline and destination. It is always a good idea to bring a mask with you when travelling, and you may need to wear one when leaving the plane, inside the arrival airport, and during transfers to your accommodation.

Masks are mandatory on some airlines

Birmingham Airport says it is now a "personal preference" for passengers to decide whether to wear a face mask in the terminal. However, different airlines have different rules about wearing masks while flying.

Easyjet

For flights to, from, and within Italy, Austria, and Germany, all passengers aged six and over are required to wear an FFP2 mask. For flights to, from, and within France, all passengers aged six and above must wear an FFP2 or surgical mask. Cloth masks, scarves, visors, and masks with valves are not accepted.

For flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Gibraltar, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, and Iceland, wearing a mask is optional. Masks are only mandatory when flying to and from these destinations.

For all other routes, all passengers aged six and over need to wear a suitable face mask (no scarves, face visors, or masks with valves).

Jet2

It is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face mask on Jet2 planes. However, the airline recommends passengers wear masks in these spaces, and you may need to wear one when you get to your overseas destination. You might need to wear a mask when leaving the plane, inside the airport, and onboard transfers to and from your accommodation.

Ryanair

You must wear a face mask/covering on Ryanair flights. Some countries require this to be a surgical face mask. If you are travelling to/from/within Italy, Austria, or Germany, it must be an FFP2 face mask.

Flybe

Everyone over the age of six must wear an approved face mask covering both the nose and mouth when boarding and on board any Flybe aircraft—even if they are fully vaccinated. Masks must be worn for the duration of the flight and should only be removed briefly to eat and drink. You will not be able to board your flight without a mask.

TUI Airways

Face masks are no longer a legal requirement on TUI Airways flights to/from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. However, the airline strongly recommends that passengers still wear a mask throughout their flight. It is mandatory for all customers aged six and over travelling to Italy to wear an FFP2 mask throughout their flight.

British Airways

The legal requirement to wear a face covering has now been removed in England and Wales, and BA has updated its face mask policy. Customers are no longer required to wear a mask at some airports in England. However, as an international airline, BA is obliged to ensure its customers comply with local restrictions and meet the requirements of their destination.

KLM

You are required to wear a face mask on KLM flights, even if you have been vaccinated against or recently tested negative for COVID-19. Without one, you will not be allowed to board.

Air France

The wearing of a surgical mask is mandatory on board all Air France aircraft. Masks may also be required at the airport, depending on local health measures.

Emirates

You must wear a cloth or medical mask throughout Dubai International Airport, during boarding, throughout your flight, and as you leave the aircraft. Children under six years old and customers with certain medical conditions are exempt.

Due to local government regulations, only medical face masks are accepted on flights from Dubai to Germany, France, and Austria. If you are unable to wear a mask throughout your journey for medical reasons, contact Emirates 48 hours before your flight to request an exception and present your medical certificate at check-in.

Masks are not mandatory on other airlines

While Birmingham Airport says it is now a "personal preference" for passengers to wear a face covering in the terminal, the rules differ from airline to airline when it comes to wearing masks while flying.

Easyjet Face Mask Rules

For flights to, from, and within Italy, Austria, and Germany, all passengers aged six and over are required to wear an FFP2 mask. For flights to, from, and within France, the same age group must wear an FFP2 or surgical mask. Cloth masks, scarves, visors, and masks with valves are not accepted.

For flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Gibraltar, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, and Iceland, wearing a mask is optional. Masks are only mandatory when flying to and from countries with stricter rules, such as Italy.

For all other routes, all passengers aged six and over need to wear a suitable face mask (no scarves, face visors, or masks with valves).

Jet2 Face Mask Rules

It is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face mask on Jet2 planes. However, the airline recommends following UK Government guidance and wearing a face mask in these spaces. You may need to wear one when leaving the plane, inside the airport, and onboard transfers to and from your accommodation, especially if your destination has stricter rules.

Ryanair Face Mask Rules

You must wear a face mask/covering on Ryanair flights. Some countries, such as Italy, Austria, and Germany, require a surgical face mask or an FFP2 face mask.

Flybe Face Mask Rules

Everyone over six years of age must wear an approved face mask covering their nose and mouth when boarding and onboard Flybe aircraft, regardless of vaccination status. Face masks must be worn for the duration of the flight and can only be removed briefly for eating and drinking. A medical-grade mask or a fitted face covering is required, and failure to comply will result in denied boarding.

TUI Airways Face Mask Rules

Face masks are no longer a legal requirement on TUI Airways flights to/from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. However, the airline strongly recommends wearing a mask throughout the flight, in line with UK government and EU Charter guidance.

For customers aged six and over travelling to Italy, wearing an FFP2 mask is mandatory.

British Airways Face Mask Rules

The legal requirement to wear a face covering has been removed in England and Wales, and British Airways has updated its policy accordingly. However, as an international airline, BA is obliged to ensure its customers comply with local restrictions and meet the requirements of their destination.

KLM Face Mask Rules

Wearing a face mask is mandatory on KLM flights, even if you have been vaccinated against or recently tested negative for COVID-19.

Air France Face Mask Rules

The wearing of a surgical mask is mandatory on board all Air France aircraft. Masks may also be required at the airport, depending on local health measures.

As you can see, masks are not mandatory on some airlines serving Birmingham Airport, such as Jet2, TUI Airways, and British Airways. However, it is important to note that these policies are subject to change, and passengers should always check the latest guidelines before their flight to ensure they comply with any updates.

Masks are mandatory on some international flights

Birmingham Airport says it is now a "personal preference" for passengers to decide whether to wear a face mask in the terminal. However, different airlines have different rules regarding masks on their flights, and these rules are subject to change. Therefore, it is important to check the latest Covid rules and restrictions of the specific airline and destination country before flying.

For example, as of July 2024, Easyjet requires passengers aged six and over to wear an FFP2 mask on flights to, from, and within Italy, Austria, and Germany. For flights to, from, and within France, passengers must wear an FFP2 or surgical mask. Meanwhile, for flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, and other select countries, wearing a mask is optional.

Ryanair requires passengers to wear a face mask/covering on board, and some countries mandate that this must be a surgical face mask. For flights to, from, or within Italy, Austria, or Germany, an FFP2 face mask is necessary.

Flybe mandates that everyone aged six and over must wear an approved face mask covering the nose and mouth when boarding and on board the aircraft, regardless of vaccination status. Masks may only be removed for a short duration while eating and drinking.

TUI Airways strongly recommends wearing masks throughout the flight in line with UK government and EU Charter guidance, although it is no longer a legal requirement on flights to and from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. However, for flights to Italy, an FFP2 mask is mandatory for all customers aged six and over.

British Airways has removed the legal requirement to wear a face mask on some of its flights, but as an international airline, it must ensure that passengers comply with local restrictions and requirements of the destination country.

KLM requires passengers to wear a face mask, regardless of their vaccination status or recent negative Covid-19 test result.

Air France mandates the wearing of surgical masks on board all its aircraft, and masks may also be required at the airport, depending on local health measures.

Emirates requires passengers to wear a cloth or medical mask throughout Dubai International Airport, during boarding, and throughout the flight. However, children under six years old and customers with certain medical conditions are exempt. For flights from Dubai to Germany, France, and Austria, only medical face masks are accepted.

Masks are not mandatory on internal UK flights

Birmingham Airport says it is now a "personal preference" for passengers to decide whether to wear a face mask in the terminal. However, the rules for wearing masks while flying differ from airline to airline. While rules concerning face coverings have been downgraded from compulsory in the UK, this is not the case across the rest of Europe.

Many carriers tailor their mask-wearing rules to the country they are flying to, so passengers may need a specific type of mask for certain flights. For example, for flights to, from, or within Italy, Austria, and Germany, all passengers aged six and over are required to wear an FFP2 mask when flying with Easyjet. For flights to, from, or within France, all passengers aged six and over are required to wear an FFP2 or surgical mask. Cloth masks, scarves, visors, and masks with valves are not accepted.

For flights between England, Northern Ireland, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Gibraltar, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, and Iceland, it is no longer a legal requirement to wear a mask. Wearing a mask is optional, and your choice will be respected.

Please note that masks are only optional when flying between the destinations listed above. If you are flying from Italy to England, for example, an FFP2 mask will still be required. For all other routes, all passengers aged six and over need to wear a suitable face mask (no scarves, face visors, or masks with valves). You may not be able to board without one.

Therefore, while masks are not mandatory on internal UK flights, it is important to check the specific requirements of your airline and destination before travelling.

Frequently asked questions