Many airports in Europe don't require masks. If both the destination and the departure point don't require masks, then you don't have to inflight (assuming the airline itself doesn't require it). Most EU and UK airlines aren't actively enforcing the mask on rule. They're sick of the dramas.

This conversation is almost identical to the one which which occurred when mask mandates were first introduced across the states. Re Melb Airport not enforcing mask wearing, I think the Airports have taken the position that it is not up to them per se to enforce State Laws, as have the Airlines. They can point out to a person the State requirements, but they can't make someone obey them. That's up to the cops, who are notable by their absence generally.

So we finally have caught up with the developed world and ceased mandating masks in airports, only to be faced with the illogical situation of having to wear them on the aircraft.
The rest of the world has moved on, hurry up Australia and join the world.

The illogical farce is that when you get outside the terminal and are waiting in the taxi rank (with all the other people who just walked maskless through the terminal with you) you have to put a mask on, then when you get out of the taxi at the packed airport DFO you can take it off again.

Just flew with an oriental airline. 100% mask wearing was being urged over the loudspeakers in Kansai International airport building and Seoul Incheon and throughout both flights. Saw no exceptions until awaiting luggage at Heathrow T4 when Westerners lost theirs asap.

Yes, still very hit and miss out there paxing about the planet.

You subject the population of this country to wear a mask in such settings that is having zero impact on the overall Covid picture across the nation. We are achieving nothing and wasting our time. I have had altercations recently with passengers having a crack at other passengers over this rule.

Good luck to all the Asian nations above us. Hardly places I would be taking advice from. I wish them luck in whatever the hell they are attempting to achieve. From what I’ve recently heard from some expat pilots in Asia, and the continuous bull$hit they are subject to, I’m glad I’m living in the west.

Heard today that some airline staff were being asked to wear a mask at work to stave off the flu, as staff shortages due sickness from that were hurting as much as Covid.

Some of "the rest of the world" is already leaning back towards mask mandates. Outside China, it would be a very courageous government that would re-introduce lockdowns, but the bureaucrats have to be seen to be doing something - whether masks are effective or not is not for me to debate as I am unqualified to do so.
But unless we get covid rates down very soon, expect Australia to follow with mask mandates in the not too distant future.
If it avoids lockdowns, suck it up, says I.
I am off to Europe soon for an extended trip, and have packed a couple of dozen masks in anticipation.

As Covid is now the third major cause of death in Australia, after cancer and heart deaths... diabetes now displaced to fourth place, I would have thought that we would be a bit concerned about that! Apparently not so!

Covid cases will go up and down for the next 5/10/15 years. Get used to it. Move on.

Deaths are irrelevant to the general public now, deaths skew older, nobody seems to care anymore. If 1000 dropped dead tomorrow you will find people just don’t give two sh!ts anymore. Life has moved on. I flick channels soon as a health expert or something pops educating us why we need to lockdowns, mandates again, in which then just destroys this industry once again for the hundredth time. People will be dropping dead from Covid for the remainder of our lives, can’t live in lockdown forever.

Can you name some countries?

Can you post a link to show that is the case?

ABS link…https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death

Icarus, a return to masks in public places was being debated in France only last week. As of last week masks were still required on aircraft in several European countries (Italy, Lithuania being two I know of). Maybe scrapped over the weekend - dunno…?
Plenty of places still recommend masks on public transport - and no, I am not going to cite those places - instead of relying on my implied ‘hearsay’ check it out yourself.
But ‘recommended’ only works well in less bogan cultures, where people have some respect for those around them and are sensitive to peer pressure. Recommended would be a dismal failure here - punch-ups on the trams and all that. Hence, I think we are on course for mandates again.

Germany is discussing masks for Autumn/Winter. Sigh....

So M e AV not really any countries returning to mask wearing, just a few hangers on from the previous requirement and some discussion about possibly returning to mask wearing.

According to this link Covid was not in the top five causes of death in 2021…https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life...auses-of-death

This link is for the first three months of 2022…https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/he...latest-release

Covid?

[QUOTE=Icarus2001;11256367]So M e AV not really any countries returning to mask wearing, just a few hangers on from the previous requirement and some discussion about possibly returning to mask wearing.

So where did I say otherwise?

QUOTE According to this link Covid was not in the top five causes of death in 2021…https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life...auses-of-death

This link is for the first three months of 2022…https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/he...latest-release

Not that I made the original claim (that was another poster) but the Australian Financial Review dated 2nd July 2022 has a headline stating that covid is now the #2 killer. It's behind a paywall so I don't know whether it means in Australia, or world wide.
Cause of death statistics could well be behind the drag curve, with last year or even the first three months of this year being irrelevant to where we are currently.
Starvation has, or will, overtake covid in many places before year's end, but either way the covid numbers are still making mask mandates more likely than not to return later in the year.

Ah..ah.......ahhhh BULLSH!T.

The only people that want masks back are the ugly people. Pity they haven't invented the equivalent of a mask that hides obesity. We could then hide behind all of the western diseases that contribute to 'covid deaths'

I hope face masks remain mandatory in places where you have no choice but to be in close contact with others, such as when flying or on public transport. I had covid once and I would rather reduce the possibilities of getting it again.

If you haven’t seen today’s news NSW has issued advice to again mask up indoors. Apparently the various CMOs are in discussion about another round of national mask mandates. Even for the fit and beautiful apparently, although I don’t see how they can satisfy their vanity while so encumbered.

I have been over the mask caper for a few months now, but read today that variant B.A.5 is the worst Omicron yet, and is spiking hospital admissions again. As predicted, Covid19 is going to be around for quite a while. The daily death rate here is around 30. Since we have collectively decided that we just don’t care anymore I guess we can look forward to bad winters.

More likely that they will push a 4th shot over masks. More money in it!!

I’m happy with whatever keeps people flying. If it’s masks, so be it, same with boosters. Having said that, and mandate needs to be accompanied by a full scale enquiry into each states handling over the last 2 years, as well as a guarantee of criminal charges if a premier/cho has denied an Australian their rights (ie access to a hospital for critical surgery…ring any bells?)