Cathay Pacific says airline's premium passengers will be exempt from wearing masks while reclined

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Cathay Pacific Airways has given premium passengers the OK to remove their face masks while reclined to a flat position. The Hong Kong-based airline is citing the spacious, partitioned seating design of its first- and business-class cabins to OK the change.

A passenger flying first-class with Cathay Pacific, pictured. (Cathay Pacific Airways)

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The airline informed crew of the update in an internal memo circulated Friday, reports Executive Traveller, a travel and review website geared toward business-class passengers. In the memo, Cathay Pacific reportedly stipulated that the PPE can be taken off "when a passenger is lying flat in business or first class."

The airline informed crew of the update in an internal memo circulated Friday, according to a report. (Cathay Pacific Airways)

A spokesperson for Cathay Pacific confirmed the change to Fox News, and shared the following statement:

"The latest additional guidelines are designed to help our crew understand the circumstances under which mask wearing is exempted. Passengers are required to wear masks at all times except during the short period when they are eating and drinking, and when proper social distancing cannot be maintained," a rep explained. "Seats in First and Business Class are more spacious with partitions, and passengers are exempted when lying flat for sleep."

"Our aircraft are equipped with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresters) filtration systems that are capable of filtering 99.999% of dust particles and airborne contaminates such as viruses and bacteria, ensuring the highest possible cabin air quality," the airline spokesperson continued. "HEPA filters offer a similar level of performance to those used to keep the air clean in hospital operating rooms and industrial clean rooms."

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However, not everyone’s too happy with the latest change. Some flight attendants are reportedly fuming over the mask-free rule. (iStock)

However, not everyone is too happy with the latest change. Hong Kong's The Standard reports that some flight attendants are fuming over the mask-free rule, concerned that even the temporary removal of face masks could transmit COVID-19 or draw the ire of other passengers seated in the economy classes.

"Under this instruction, many crew members are worried about [contracting] COVID-19 after the close contact with passengers," argued Cheung Shu-wang, chairman of the Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines.