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You are not allowed to board a plane without a mask, but you can take it off to enjoy your cookie and cup of tea on board.
Air New Zealand has announced that it will resume its food and beverage services on all domestic flights starting Thursday.
Air New Zealand / Facebook
Masks are mandatory on all Air New Zealand flights until the entire country is at alert level 1.
These services have not been available under Covid-19 Alert Level 2 to minimize contact between passengers and cabin crew.
“Many of our customers told us that they had missed our regular in-flight service snacks, so we have brought back our food and beverage offering to provide people with this option,” said an Air New Zealand spokeswoman.
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Koru Hour services, where wine or beer, cheese and crackers are offered on night jet flights, would not return until all of New Zealand was at alert level 1.
The return of the traditional tea, coffee and cookies or corn chips comes after Air New Zealand said face coverings would remain mandatory on all flights until the entire country is at alert level 1.
Auckland will remain at Alert Level 2 for a further two weeks, and alert levels will be reviewed again on October 5.
Current Air New Zealand rules state that anyone who refuses to wear a proper face cover will not be allowed to board the plane.
But the airline said customers could temporarily remove their masks to eat or drink during the flight.
“Customers will be required to keep their mask or face on while not eating or drinking,” added the Air New Zealand spokeswoman.
The masks prevent people from breathing in or coughing up virus particles into the air around them, said Dr. Amanda Kvalsvig, a senior researcher in the department of public health at the University of Otago in Wellington.
“When you take the mask off to eat or drink, that protection stops for a while,” he said.
“But there will still be a general protective effect if people wear masks at other times, especially if someone coughs or sneezes.
“For drinks and snacks on board, the advice is the same as for other situations, which is to touch the mask as little as possible and wash your hands before eating or drinking.”
Health Director-General Ashley Bloomfield said Monday that he had advised Cabinet to continue recommending the use of face masks on internal flights below level 1.
