600 violations of mask-wearing regulation on German planes

Almost €200,000 in fines have been imposed on passengers during the coronavirus pandemic for violations of Germany's requirement to wear a face mask on aircraft, reported dpa.

Since 2020, the country's Federal Aviation Authority (LBA) has initiated 612 proceedings against passengers who disregarded the mask requirement, the authority confirmed to dpa on Wednesday. The fines for these violations amounted to €196,541.

The obligation to wear masks in aeroplanes expired on October 1 this year; Until then, the office had registered 253 violations in 2022. A year earlier, there had been 276.

According to the LBA, anyone who refused to wear their mask correctly in the aircraft usually had to pay a fine of €500 plus fees and expenses. If the person refusing to wear the mask was reasonable and admitted the offence, the fine could be reduced to €250.

Germany's Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has made it clear that he would reintroduce mandatory masks in aircraft if the coronavirus situation made it necessary.