Picture: Pexels

By Frank Martin

International airlines are determined to maintain operations in 2022 even in conditions of a global pandemic.

In order to fullfill the decision the mayor airliners are studying the permanent use of face masks by passengers.

According to experts masks can be annoying, but have proven extremely useful, especially in close cabins with unknown people in proximity to one another, such as happen on commercial airliners.

In United States strongly hit by Omicron the use of face shields has already been approved by the Transportation Security Administration. Similar ordinances are in effect all over the planet.

In current reopening of the global tourism industry hampered by virus modalities many innovators think that it would not only be necessary to use masks on airplanes.

The European press has quoted the financial director of the airline Ryan air, Neil Orphan announcing that facial masks will be kept for a still uncalculated time.

Orphan said that “masks will be with us for a while longer”. “If that is the price we have to pay for the next few months, until the summer, it is a small price to pay” he estimated.

The world market is reacting to possible prolongation of the use of masks.

Everywhere new models are announced.

Surgical items are available called FFP2 and FFP3, praised by health specialists who mainly recommend the FFP2, which adapts better to faces and prevents the entry of particles.

In Italy and Austria masks are already mandatory when entering public transport, shops and events.That kind of protection is described as excellent for use by tourists from the moment they start their travels, especially air travel.

Other models called N95 or KN95 have, according to studies, an effectiveness of 95% over the omicron variant.

A health description in Chile where masks of this profile are used highlights that they are very effective against viruses, bacteria and polluting particles, and have an excellent fit to the face.

Everything seems to indicate that the mask will be antagonistic to the pandemic until it is controlled.

Experts believe that the universal use of such protection at airports and on planes, trains and other forms of public transportation is an effective safeguard against the virus spread.

Its effectiveness, psychologists say, increases public confidence in travel, which is essential for a sustained economic recovery in the universal leisure industry.

FM