Which airlines still require masks in 2023? Most airlines dropped their mask requirements in early 2022, starting with airlines in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. On April 18, 2022, a federal judge in Florida struck down the U.S. airline mask mandate that had been in place for more than two years.
Throughout the spring and summer, mask mandates on other airlines fell like dominoes, and even holdouts like Mexico eventually ended the requirement to wear a mask on flights in the fall.
But going into 2023, a number of airlines around the world still require passengers to wear masks on flights.
Additionally, even airlines that do not have a mask mandate may require passengers to wear a mask if their country of origin or final destination requires it.
These are some of the airlines that still require masks in 2023. Note that this is not an exhaustive list, but contains some of the more popular airlines that still require masks.
1) Iberia
Iberia is one of the few airlines in Europe that is still requiring masks for passengers.
This Spanish airline still requires that all travelers over the age of six wear a mask onboard their flights.
Iberia flies to destinations in Europe, North America, and South America, and carries more than 20 million passengers per year.
2) Vueling
Vueling is another Spanish airline that still requires masks on all flights originating in or flying to Spain and Portugal.
For passengers aged six and up, masks continue to be a requirement on these Vueling flights.
3) Copa Airlines
Copa Airlines is one of the most popular airlines in Latin America, with over 295 routes around North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
This airline, which is based in Panama, still requires that all passengers over the age of two wear masks onboard.
4) Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flagship carrier of Hong Kong and one of several Asian airlines still requiring passengers to wear masks onboard all flights.
This airline operates flights from Asia to destinations around the world and requires that all passengers over the age of two wear a mask for the duration of their flight.
5) Japan Airlines
Japan is a country that never had a legally-enforced mask mandate in place, but where people voluntarily wore masks with near-100% compliance (and continue to voluntarily wear masks indoors and outdoors in 2023.)
So it’s no surprise that Japan Airlines “kindly asks” that guests wear masks onboard their flights.
While it isn’t worded like a mandate on their website, reading the fine print reveals that passengers without a mask may be denied boarding if it is “creating discomfort” for other passengers.
6) China Eastern Airlines
With some of the strictest and most austere Covid restrictions in the world, it’s unsurprising that China Eastern Airlines still requires masks.
China Eastern Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world by number of passengers, carrying over 150 million people per year to destinations around Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America.
7) China Southern Airlines
Similarly, passengers on China Southern Airlines, another major Chinese carrier, must continue to wear masks onboard flights as of 2023.
This is another large airline that serves more than 200 destinations in China and abroad that is still mandating masks.
Airlines That DON’T Require Masks In 2023
Most major airlines around the world have dropped mask mandates as of 2023.
Some of the biggest airlines that do NOT require masks (except in limited cases where the country of origin or final destination may require it) are:
- Delta Air Lines
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- JetBlue Airways
- Air France
- Lufthansa
- Turkish Airlines
- Ryanair
- Easyjet
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
As always, be sure to check ahead of your flight to see the latest restrictions and rules for flying.
