Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has confirmed the end of the mask requirement on commercial flights.

"On international flights, masks are hardly worn anymore," said the SPD politician on Tuesday in Berlin. "That's why we are now reducing ourselves to the areas in Germany where this is possible," said Lauterbach, referring to buses and trains .

Lufthansa has welcomed plans by the traffic light coalition for a temporary end to the corona mask requirement on airplanes in autumn.

CEO Carsten Spohr spoke of good news in Frankfurt.

"How happy are our employees who no longer have to play mask police.

And how happy are almost 300,000 passengers every day who no longer had to wear a mask anywhere else because every other airline ignored it.”

According to a draft by the SPD, FDP and Greens, the mask requirement in airplanes should no longer be prescribed nationwide in the Infection Protection Act, unlike initially planned.

In the coalition, the FDP had put pressure on an end to the legal requirement on board.

According to the amendment, in the future it is still planned that the federal government can impose a mask requirement for passengers and cabin crew with a regulation without the consent of the Bundesrat.

At the same time, it should be stipulated nationwide that, in addition to long-distance trains, clinics and nursing homes, FFP2 masks are also mandatory in medical practices.

Criticism from Bavaria

The Bavarian Minister of Health, Klaus Holetschek, criticized that the traffic light made itself look ridiculous with its “confused Corona course”.

"Who should take the Federal Minister of Health seriously if he's already giving in to the FDP again?" Nobody seriously disputes that masks on airplanes could be effective protection against infections.

“This is especially true when everyone present is wearing a mask.

In addition, it is quite reasonable for air travelers to protect themselves and above all others in this way.”

SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Wiese, on the other hand, spoke of a “good and reasonable compromise” by the coalition.

“The waiver of masks is technically justifiable and understandable,” he told the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday).

In airplanes there is a different air circulation by sucking off the air and using filters.

"It's different in the ICE." On the other hand, the mandatory masks in medical practices, which are now required by law nationwide, serve to protect vulnerable and particularly endangered groups.

So far, the countries have been able to order mask requirements in doctor's offices for themselves.

The rail industry lobby group Allianz pro Schiene criticized it as illogical to remove the mask requirement on planes but not to lift it for buses and trains.

If it is lifted on planes, the same must apply to all other public transport.

"The federal government urgently needs to find a uniform solution," said Managing Director Dirk Flege.

Masks should continue to apply nationwide on long-distance trains, while the federal states regulate this for local bus and train transport.

Mask remains recommended

According to the current legal situation, the mask requirement on the plane is valid until September 23rd.

Aviation has been protesting against this requirement for a long time, which no longer applies in other everyday areas and countries.

The industry also refers to efficient ventilation systems and particle filters in aircraft cabins.

She recently turned against original plans that only FFP2 masks should be possible on board, but no longer simpler surgical masks.

For example, it is not allowed to wear FFP2 masks in the work environment for twelve hours, said Lufthansa boss Spohr.

"But we would have had to force guests to carry them to Buenos Aires for up to 14 hours."

Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach had declared on Monday that as long as the pandemic situation allows it, the mask requirement on the plane should be dropped.

“We recommend that the mask stays there.

It's not a question of regulations, but of reason," said the SPD politician of the German Press Agency.

Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (FDP) told the “Rheinische Post” (Wednesday): “I support the lifting of the mask requirement in air traffic.

In doing so, we are following what also applies in the rest of Europe, which is sensible.”

The Bundestag is to adopt the corona provisions in the Infection Protection Act for the fall on Thursday.

After that, the Federal Council must also agree.

The federal cabinet had launched a draft that generally provides for more extensive rules on masks and tests from October 1st to April 7th, 2023, after most of the requirements had been lifted in the spring.

The federal states should be able to impose protective requirements and expand them in a critical situation.