Travelers are getting used to the “new normal” when it comes to their travel thanks to all the unrelenting mask mandates and regulations at every turn.
Arriving at the airport, you’re greeted by masked attendants – who may or may not be smiling under there – before being surrounded by several masked TSA agents at security, before you’re shuffled onto a plane full of, yup, masked passengers.
This has gone on so long now that many travelers have given up on the opportunity to freely breathe that stale airplane air ever again – however, one airline has taken the plunge and will let you fly mask-free for the entire flight!
The catch?
European airline, Scandinavian Airlines, released an announcement that as of October 18th masks are no longer required on flights within, to, and from Sweden, Denmark, and Norway reports Travel Pulse.
“Due to the opening of societies and general recommendations from authorities in Scandinavia, SAS is from 18 October 2021, removing the requirement for mandatory use of face masks on flights within Scandinavia,” Scandinavian Airlines said in a statement:
Ahhhhhh, what a breath of fresh air… Literally.
Unlike Biden’s TSA, which has announced they are extending the mask mandate into 2022, Scandinavian countries have begun to allow their citizens to return to pre-pandemic life.
And they are doing it successfully!
According to reports on Live and Let’s Fly, no one is walking around Sweden wearing a mask – which they’ve always viewed the flimsy pieces of cloth as a false sense of security.
Well, yeah. That’s right in line with the data that supports the ineffectiveness of masks on protecting against COVID-19.
In Norway, while masks are recommended, they’re not required indoors or outdoors.
However in Denmark, according to the Denmark Health Authority, masks are still required for children over 12 years old and adults inside public establishments.
Still, Scandinavian Airlines isn’t the only popular airline that wants to scrap the mask mandate during flights – Norwegian Air is expected to nix masks as well, reports Live and Let’s Fly.
But, as Americans, are we allowed to enter Scandinavian countries and enjoy all the beauty of being able to fly maskless?
United States citizens can travel to Norway, but only under certain conditions as stated on the U.S. Embassy in Norway’s website:
- Students coming to Norway to begin their studies and PhD students.
- U.S. residents who are fully vaccinated and who can document this with a verifiable COVID-19 certificate connected to the EUDCC gateway.
- Minors traveling with their parents, if parents have a COVID-19 certificate or exempt from travel restrictions on other grounds.
To get into Sweden from the United States, you have to have the usual international traveling requirements of either an “EU COVID-19 vaccination certificate OR a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of entry,” the U.S. Embassy in Sweden reports.
The U.S. Embassy in Denmark states that citizens can travel to Denmark for any reason as long as they are vaccinated, and won’t have to abide by testing requirements or quarantine periods.
However, unvaccinated Americans need an approved reason to fly into Denmark.
The positive side is, just as Scandinavian Airlines has boasted, so long as you are able to enter one of these Nordic countries, you can fly freely between them without a mask.
Whatever country you depart from would be considered your transit country and local policies would take effect.
It sure would be nice to not have to worry about your baby being booted off a flight because they won’t stay smothered in a mask for hours.
Hopefully we will see more airlines adopt Scandinavian Airlines’ brave and liberating policy of allowing people to go maskless should they so choose.
The precedent has been set, the results have been favorable – now we just wait and see if common sense will trump the need for power and control.
