Cathay Pacific face mask exemption for first, business class flyers

Cathay Pacific will exempt passengers in business class or first class cabins from wearing a face mask when they recline their seat to a fully-flat position. Cathay Pacific's reasoning is that the high enclosures surrounding its business class seats and first class suites, along with the greater degree of personal space and thus the distance between travellers, helps combat the airborne spread of coronavirus between passengers. The Hong Kong-based airline made face masks compulsory for all passengers on May 15 at all stages of their journey, from airport check-in to lounges as well as during the flight. However, in an internal memo issued on Friday, Cathay Pacific advised crew that a mask exemption will apply "when a passenger is lying flat in business or first class." A Cathay Pacific spokesperson later confirmed the softened rules, advising that "seats in first and business class are more spacious with partitions, and passengers are exempted when lying flat for sleep." <br/>