Cathay Pacific business class passengers can go mask-free
Cathay Pacific is allowing some passengers to remove their masks during a flight – as long as they are travelling business or first class.
The airline amended rules, allowing passengers with their seats in the lie flat position to sleep without their masks on.
"Seats in first and business class are more spacious with partitions, and passengers are exempted when lying flat for sleep," the airline said in a memo to flight crew.
A flight crew union has questioned the decision, calling it risky and it may create bad feeling with economy passengers.
"Under this instruction, many crew members are worried about infecting Covid-19 after the close contact with passengers," said Cheung Shu-wang, Chairman of the Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines.
Cathay insists the greater amount of personal space between passengers in business and first class makes it a safer environment.
"First and business class seats are more spacious with bulkheads, and passengers are exempt when lying down flat to sleep," a Cathay spokesperson said.
The airline made mask wearing mandatory for all passengers in May 2020 within the airport and during the flight.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025