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On Wednesday morning, the SAS message arrived that all passengers must use mouthwash starting May 18.
The order applies to all passengers over the age of six until August 31.
– It is now mandatory with mouthwash on all flights. Both nationally and internationally, John Eckhoff tells NRK. He is the press officer for SAS.
The International Organization for Air Transport made the same recommendation on May 5. SAS and Norwegian are now following suit.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Line Vold at FHI said they were evaluating measures on an ongoing basis.
Until now, mouthwash is not part of the Norwegian authorities’ recommendations for airborne infection control.
Mouth bound passengers board a British Airways flight at Heathrow last Thursday. The same is true for SAS and Norway flights until August 31.
Photo: Hannah McKay / Hannah McKay
You can’t fly without a mask and lose your ticket
However, you must obtain the mask yourself.
Scarf, neck or the like are not approved.
If you don’t have a mask, you won’t get on board.
– This becomes part of the new routines before going out and flying. You have to get it yourself. For example, in a pharmacy, says Eckhoff.
It should not be a medical mouthwash, but a mask that prevents contamination by drops.
SAS Press Officer John Eckhoff.
Photo: SAS
– Does SAS have a bandage on the back that you can buy if you have forgotten or lost it?
– I don’t think you should think that there are masks at the airport or on board. This responsibility must be assumed by the individual.
– Is SAS allowed to decide this when it is not part of the national guidelines?
– It is the supreme responsibility of the airline to safeguard the safety of employees and passengers, responds Eckhoff.
Anyone traveling with SAS will receive an SMS a few days in advance with this information.
Norwegian does the same
Norwegian will also introduce the mandatory use of mouthwash beginning May 18.
– This is in line with the guidelines of the European authorities. Travelers themselves are responsible for providing mouthwash. We ask everyone to use it throughout the flight, writes Andreas Hjørnholm to NRK. He is a press officer in Norwegian.
He writes that it is crucial that all airlines in Europe adhere to the same regulations.
– It may not be the case that some countries recommend blocking the middle seats, others do not. It is not commercially sustainable.
Various pharmacies have been sold for face masks. But as a traveler with SAS or Norwegian you have to get one, otherwise you will not be able to fly.
Photo: Oda Viken / NRK
Widerøe: – We follow the Norwegian authorities
Widerøe, for his part, has not implemented this mandate.
– We consider mouthwash. But first of all we are dealing with the Norwegian aviation authorities, says Catharina Solli. He is a communications manager at Widerøe.
Catharina Solli, Communications Manager at Widerøe.
Photo: Widerøe
FHI recommends not use of non-medical masks for flights.
They believe that the most preventive measure is to increase the distance between passengers.
NHO Aviation does not fully agree with this, writes Flysmart24.
They point out that other countries in Europe have chosen the use of the mask as the best measure.
NHO Aviation believes that mouthwash before it is introduced into all aircraft instead of distance rule In this way, airlines will lose less money.
This in addition to other measures such as disinfecting the aircraft and avoiding service. Boarding is such that passengers do not cross. Magazines and other contact points have been removed.
These are the new SAS rules:
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The face mask is mandatory for passengers six years of age and older on all SAS flights from May 18 to August 31.
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All aircraft are cleaned and disinfected according to new procedures adapted to the extraordinary situation.
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New boarding routines ensure the best possible distance on board. Rear-seat passengers first board the plane to avoid passing.
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All non-essential loose items such as reading material in the seat pocket, pillows, blankets and trays have been removed.
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There is no food service on board to reduce contact between passengers and crew.
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Hand luggage is limited to one package per passenger.
Source: SAS website
A Widerøe Ground Handling employee disinfects and washes one of Widerøe’s planes in Torp. Widerøe has not imposed masks on its travelers. They only fill half the plane.
Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / NTB scanpix
FHI: Non-medical masks have an unknown effect
Knowledge about the risk of infection for covid-19 on board an aircraft is limited.
Currently, very few cases of infection date back to flights.
Such an infection is difficult to document. But experience so far in the outbreak indicates that it is not common for covid-19 to infect aircraft, FHI writes on its pages.
In an email to NRK, FHI responds to new requests from the two airlines
– The mandatory requirement is not expected to be at the expense of other measures. Nor should it contribute further to the global shortage of medical mouthwashes.
Homemade masks have a still unknown effect.
FHI does not rule out that they may be infectious. But they also believe that improper use can lead to further infection due to the face.
FHI will now analyze whether there is new knowledge about the effect of infection when using non-medical face masks.
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