British airlines to drop mask mandates as U.K. lifts remaining travel restrictions

In a Monday news release, Heathrow announced it will drop its mask requirement starting Wednesday but still “strongly encourages” travelers in the airport to continue covering their faces “in recognition that the pandemic is not over.”

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic provided statements to Heathrow indicating they would follow suit. In a statement, British Airways Chief Operating Officer Jason Mahoney said that beginning Wednesday, passengers will only be required to wear a mask on the carrier’s flights if their destination requires it.

Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantic’s chief customer and operating officer, said in a statement that masks would be optional on routes that are not subject to international mask regulations. The airline will introduce the change gradually, and Koster said masks “will still be required on many of our routes, including flights operating to or from the United States” until at least April 18, the expiration date for a recently extended mask order from the Transportation Security Administration.