Updated: Which Singapore Airlines flights won’t require masks

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:

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.

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 Germany’s 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.

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 didn’t 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 it’s 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 wasn’t 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 there’s built-in social distancing. I often wondered if any airline might dare to drop the mask rule altogether for premium cabins, but figured they didn’t 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 I’m sure there’ll be those who disagree with the decision, I’m personally very happy. In my opinion, vaccinations offer sufficient protection (I’d happily take a fourth jab if they let me), and let’s not forget that an aircraft cabin has some of the cleanest air you’ll 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, I’ll always miss this legendary pre-flight announcement: 

“Please 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 mask”.

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 it’s not required?