Iberia Reminds Customers that Face Masks Must Be Worn on All Flights

• Spain’s Transport Ministry order (TMA/384/2020) says face masks covering the mouth and nose must be worn during boarding and inside aircraft.
• Iberia has implemented sweeping a Covid-19 prevention plan for customers and staff.
• The Spanish airline is conducting antibody tests on all employees.

As of 6 May, all people using public transportation in Spain, including airlines, must use face masks that cover the mouth and nose, according to a new order from the country’s Ministry of Transport  (TMA/384/2020). 

Iberia is informing passengers about the new regulation, which applies to cabin and cockpit crews, and requires the use of masks during boarding and inside the aircraft.

Iberia has taken a series of measures to protect its customers and staff from contagion by the Covid-19 virus, which include stricter cleaning protocols, frequent disinfection of all installations, aircraft, and equipment, staggered shifts, along with information and consciousness-raising campaigns. 

It is also testing all employees for the presence of antibodies against the disease as they return from the furlough. 

Covid-19 Prevention Measures 

At Iberia’s web page https://www.iberia.com/es/en/covid-19/medidas-adoptadas/ all the measures designed to enable cust9oemrs to fly with confidence are outlined: 

Before you fly: 

• To respect the social distancing recommended by health authorities, a new queueing system for check-in and boarding and rearranged all customer service points at airports. 
• Barrier screens have been installed at check-in and Customer service points. 
• Aircraft entry and exit by airbridge fingers is being prioritised.

On-board hygiene and safety: 

• Aircraft cabins, surfaces, toilets, etc., are being cleaned and disinfected more thoroughly and more 
• The air in Iberia cabins is replaced every three minutes. Aircraft are fitted with HEPA filters that remove 99.99% of the viruses and bacteria in recirculated air. 
• Cabin crews have been trained and equipped to isolate any passengers showing suspicious symptoms during flights.

Changes to service on board: 

• To reduce contact, in-flight service has been simplified, and duty-free sales and the distribution of magazines have been suspended.
• On flights of less than four hours, meal service has been suspended and blankets and pillows are not used.
• On long-haul flights, meal service is simplified and disposable materials are used. All linen is sanitised after use.
• Extra hand soap is available in toilets.

Antibody tests for employees 

Teleworking will remain in place wherever possible. Flight crews and Iberia employees returning to airport and maintenance work stations after furlough are being given blood tests to detect Covid-19 antibodies. They will be tested again 15 and 45 days after returning to work. Some 2,500 such tests will be conducted in May, and eventually all Iberia’s nearly 17,000 employees will be tested.