Ryanair has welcomed new EU guidelines to ensure that Europe's citizens can return to flying within the European Union in the coming weeks in a manner that best protects their health and the health of airline crew.
Ryanair said that it especially welcomes the advice on face masks, which it said reflects its own health protocols for when it returns to widespread flying on July 1.
Ryanair has also called on the Irish and UK governments to drop their 14 day quarantine measures in favour of face masks and social distancing.
"Ineffective And Unimplementable"
In a statement published on Ryanair's website, Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary said, "14 day quarantines are ineffective and unimplementable. Requiring international arrivals to quarantine only after they have used multiple public transport providers to get from the airport to their ultimate destination has no basis in science or medicine. We strongly urge Europe's governments, especially those in Ireland and the UK, to mandate to the wearing of face masks for airline, train and [London] underground passengers, as this is the best and most effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19 in public transport environments where social distancing is not possible.
"We welcome the European Union's recommendation on face masks, and call again on the Irish and UK governments to abandon their unexplainable, ineffective and unimplementable quarantine restrictions. Europe's citizens can travel safely on their summer holidays wearing face masks and observing temperature protocols, but 14 day quarantines have no scientific basis, are unimplementable and unnecessary in circumstances where airline, train and underground passengers wear face masks where social distancing isn't possible."
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