| โ ๏ธ Latest Updates |
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Singapore has dropped its indoor mask requirement from most indoor venues, including airports. This came into effect on Monday, 29 August 2022.
In line with this, mask rules have also been loosened onboard airplanes. Masks are no longer be required on:
- Outbound commercial flights from Singapore to destinations that do not require mask-wearing onboard
- Inbound commercial flights into Singapore from destinations that do not require mask wearing onboard
Singapore Airlines has published an updated policy on the use of face masks during flights:
| ๐ฌ SIA Statement |
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โSingapore Airlines (SIA) has updated our policy on the use of face masks during flights, following the latest guidelines from the Singapore government With effect from 29 August 2022, customers are not required to wear face masks on board flights, unless they are travelling to or from destinations that require a face mask. Please view the mask requirements for the various destinations here. Customers who wish to wear a face mask on board may continue to do so. Face masks are also optional at Singapore Changi Airport. Our website will be progressively updated with the guidelines on the use of face masks on board.โ |
Singapore Airlines drops mask requirement on certain routes
Singapore Airlines previously required all passengers six years old and above to wear a face mask throughout the flight, except when eating and drinking. There is no restriction on the specific type of mask that can be worn; cloth, surgical or KN95/N95 masks are all equally acceptable.
From 29 August 2022, the onboard masking rule has been adjusted based on country.
| ๐ท Mask Requirements for SIA Flights |
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| To | From | Airport | |
| North America |
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| Canada | No | No | No |
| United States | No | No | No |
| Europe |
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| Denmark | No | No | No |
| France | No | No | No |
| Germany | No | No | No |
| Italy | No | No | No |
| Netherlands | No | No | No |
| Spain | Yes | Yes | No |
| Switzerland | No | No | No |
| Turkey | No | No | No |
| United Kingdom | No | No | No |
| North Asia |
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| China | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hong Kong | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Japan | No | No | Yes |
| South Korea | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Taiwan | No | No | Yes |
| Southeast Asia |
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| Brunei | No | No | No |
| Cambodia | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Indonesia | Yes | No | Yes |
| Malaysia | No | No | No |
| Myanmar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Philippines | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Thailand | No | No | No |
| Vietnam | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Southwest Pacific |
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| Australia | No | No | No |
| New Zealand | No | No | No |
| West Asia, Africa, Middle East |
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| Bangladesh | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| India | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maldives | No | No | No |
| Nepal | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| South Africa | No | No | No |
| Sri Lanka | No | No | No |
| United Arab Emirates | No | No | No |
You should note that for flights involving connections, the mask rules may be different on the first leg versus the second leg:
- While flights to and from the USA do not require masks, passengers on SQ25/26 to JFK (which has a layover in Frankfurt) must mask throughout the entire flight due to Germanyโs regulatory requirements [note: Germany will soon scrap its mask requirement]
- While flights to and from Spain do require masks, passengers on SQ377/378 to BCN (which has a layover in Milan) do not need to mask on the SIN-MXP leg; masks will only be required from MXP-BCN
- No masks are required for flights to/from Japan and to/from the USA, so SQ11/12 to LAX (which has a layover in Narita) will be completely mask-free
- No masks are required for flights to/from UK and to/from the USA, so SQ51/52 to IAH (which has a layover in Manchester) will be completely mask-free
Even though the vast majority of long-haul destinations will soon be mask free, passengers on the following >6 hour routes will still have to grin and bear it.
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| Flights >6h still requiring masking | ||
| Route | Time | Masks Required |
| SIN-FRA-JFK | 23h 5m | Both ways |
| SIN-YVR | 14h 45m | Both ways |
| SIN-FRA | 12h 45m | Both ways |
| SIN-MUC | 12h 25m | Both ways |
| SIN-DXB | 7h 15m | Both ways |
My thoughts on this move
My first post-pandemic flight was to Munich in September 2021, just in time for the start of the Germany VTL.
While I didnโt mind the absence of pre-departure drinks, hot towels, the digital menus, the single-tray meal service, and reduced cabin interactions, what bothered me the most was having to sleep with a mask on.
I mean, by this point I was already used to wearing a mask for prolonged periods, but sleeping with it on is a different matter altogether. Seriously, I dare you to try. If you think itโs hard enough to snooze on an airplane, try it with an annoying thing tugging your ears, obstructing your breathing, and soaking up your drool the whole night. long.
Therefore, it wasnโt surprising that once the lights went off, so did the masks for many passengers. Enforcement was really a YMMV situation; there were some cabin crew who would close one eye, there were others who would wake up passengers and ask them to put their masks back on.
In general, I also observed that mask enforcement was relatively more lax in First and Business Class compared to Economy, which made sense insofar as thereโs built-in social distancing. I often wondered if any airline might dare to drop the mask rule altogether for premium cabins, but figured they didnโt want to turn the aircraft into a Snowpiercer type situation.
Over time, however, I noticed the rules getting less strict. Maskless passengers would nurse a drink for hours without interference, most of the cabin removed it for sleeping, and non-compliance was met with more of a chiding sigh than an outright rebuke.
Now the mask mandate is gone, and while Iโm sure thereโll be those who disagree with the decision, Iโm personally very happy. In my opinion, vaccinations offer sufficient protection (Iโd happily take a fourth jab if they let me), and letโs not forget that an aircraft cabin has some of the cleanest air youโll find anywhere. Cabin air is exchanged every two to three minutes through medical-grade HEPA filters, and flows from top to bottom (not along the length of the aircraft), thereby minimising the chances of infection.
Masks made sense during the early days of COVID, when treatment options were few, emergency rooms were overflowing, and vaccinations nowhere in sight. But at this point in time, I believe it should be up to the individual to decide whether he or she wants to mask up. If not now, then when?
Still, Iโll always miss this legendary pre-flight announcement:
โPlease keep your mask on at all times unless eating and drinking. However, in the event of an emergency, please remove your mask before wearing the oxygen maskโ.
Conclusion
Singapore Airlines has removed mandatory masking from 29 August 2022, except to countries that still require it. As the situation can be fluid, always check the latest requirements on the Singapore Airlines webpage.
Do you plan to continue voluntary masking even when itโs not required?
Hi Arron, I think you meant thereโs no requirement for masks from Australia, rather than to Australia?
The two tables suggest that but the commentary below the first table seems conflicting.
fixed it, thanks!
Now that the mask rules is being relaxed, I do wish that SQ start to bring back some of the pre pandemic service standard, eg. Hot towels for all classes, pre departure drinks in premium classes, appetiser in economy meals, etc. I do wish they also look at reinstating the Silver Kris magazine or onboard reading materials, but itโs unlikely ๐
not mask related commentโฆ just want to rant that I really dislike the new boxed meals in economy. tried it will laksa inside on a flight back from Phuket. the box I got was slightly overloaded on soup. and some soup leaked into the front flap that locks the cover. When I opened it, I had laksa soup splatter out on my clothes. the top flap also keeps folding back down to over the opening and impedes eating. the 2 side flaps make the opening even smaller. Really dislike this and hope SIA reverts to the old way of servingโฆ Read more ยป
Had the same laksa on the way back to sg from Danang. Think the packaging is good for those who like to not hunched over the inflight tray but to hold it in your hands while eating.
Such a farce for Spain and Germany. Masks required onboard, but not required the moment you land at their airports?
Agreed. You donโt have to wear a mask anywhere in Germany now, apart from hospitals, and not even at airports, so why on Earth would you have to on planes? Just came in on LH779 from SIN, at least enforcement was pretty lax (And I was in Y).
Finally! As someone with an upcoming flight to and from London this is a big relief. Havenโt had to wear a mask here in over a year so glad Singapore is finally coming to its senses. Now yes as you pointed out it made not too much difference in practice as I was one of the โnursing a drink for several hoursโ people and when rebuked on my last flights my response was an immediate โcan I have another drink pleaseโ which surprisingly worked every single time! Just nice to be able to do away with the farce for aโฆ Read more ยป
It is a farce to be sure. Passengers should just unite as a collective body and renounce the use of masks โ pretty sure thereโs nothing the flight crew would be able to do if no one gave a shit, and itโs not like theyโre dying to have their masks on 24/7.
Hey Aaron, thanks for sharing this! With the general easing of measures, I had a totally unrelated but pretty esoteric question I thought only you might have an answer to ๐ My kid (now >2yo) was born into the Covid world and would really like to fly. โAs life would have itโ, I canโt bring her on a holiday, but I was thinking of doing a day trip like this, booked as a return/two-way ticket: 0710-0810h SIN-KUL SQ104 (737 MAX 8) 1110-1210h KUL-SIN SQ107 (A350) โ i.e. departing 3 hours after arrival at KUL To save time + hassle, Iโฆ Read more ยป
Btw, I see I can also do this for e.g. Surabaya, by booking the return ticket:
0750-0905 SIN-SUB SQ922
1010-1330 SUB-SIN SQ923 (on the same day)
This seems to be โdelay-proofโ, as I see that historically, the same plane is used for both flights (presumably the A350 doesnโt stay overnight at SUB).
But Iโm just not sure if I can check-in fully online and board the next flight without leaving transit / passing through immigrationโฆ
On SQ flights out of Germany towards Singapore, okay to remove masks when planes are out of the countryโs airspace?
I find the air in the cabin to be slightly dry and before covid I would wear a mask to prevent my mouth from drying out when I sleep. Iโll still wear one while sleeping. At least wonโt lao nua all over my travel pillow. ๐
+1 on Briโs comment and surprised by Aaronโs resistance against sleeping with mask on. I adopted this habit on long intercontinental flights half a century ago and it has served me well, as it preserves moisture and protects my throat from the dry air (plus it keeps me from snoring and thus waking my fellow pax โ stopping me from drooling over my pillow is an added advantage). In my A/B tests I get a sore throat after a little over half of long haul flights without mask, and close to zero with mask. My Japanese in-laws even do soโฆ Read more ยป
*quarter of a century agoโฆ not quite that old yetโฆ
The table โFlights >6h still requiring maskingโ says SIN-AKL requires a mask but the table above it โMask Requirements for SIA Flightsโ says SIN-NZ doesnโt for both to and from columns. So which is accurateโฆ.?
updated the table! thank you.