Tightening protocol in the battle against COVID-19, the airline announced Monday it would deny boarding to individuals who don’t enter the aircraft with the PPE on.
Particularly, customers should put on “a protecting mask that absolutely covers their mouth and nose.” Although face masks could be briefly removed if an individual is eating, Aeroflot won’t allow passengers who can not wear masks to fly “for medical or different causes” during this time.
However, in a contradictory twist, a spokesperson announced the next day that the carrier would create a new seating part for individuals who refused to put on masks during the actual flight.
“Dedicated seats are offered for passengers who refuse to make use of masks after the doorways are closed,” mentioned Aeroflot spokeswoman Yulia Spivakova, in accordance with The Moscow Times.
Spivakova stressed that the airline still asserts authority besides passengers who refuse to comply with health and safety guidance in general, calling it “common global practice and an obligatory measure.”
The Moscow Times reports that the seats for the mask-defiant passengers can be located on the right-hand side of the economy cabins, in the final two rows.
To date, 2.7 million cases of coronavirus, and 48,568 deaths, have been reported in Russia, according to Johns Hopkins University.
