Lufthansa declares face masks mandatory

German national flag carrier Lufthansa will require all passengers to wear a face mask for the duration of the entire journey starting next Monday until Aug. 31, the airline announced on Wednesday.

"Despite numerous adjustments to service procedures, it is not always possible to maintain the required distance on a flight," Lufthansa explained. The measure is meant to provide "additional protection for all passengers."

All flight attendants on Lufthansa flights in direct contact with passengers will also be required to wear a mask. Lufthansa will thus comply with the official regulations of numerous European countries in which the wearing of a mouth and nose cover is now mandatory in public areas.

According to Lufthansa, all passengers are requested to bring their own mouth and nose cover. A "reusable fabric mask" is recommended, but "all other types of coverings, such as simple disposable masks or scarves, are also allowed."

Despite the current "low occupancy rate," seats will be allocated as "widely as possible throughout the cabin." Lufthansa stressed that "in principle, infection on board remains very unlikely."

Last week, Lufthansa announced that travel restrictions due to the global spread of the coronavirus had a "significant impact on the Lufthansa Group's earnings development in the first quarter of 2020."