Passengers flying from Orange to Sydney will soon have to wear face masks after Regional Express (Rex) mandated the extra layer of protection in its fight against the spread of the coronavirus.
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The face masks will be made compulsory on all Rex flights from June 1 this year.
Rex National Airports Manager, David Brooksby said as the country prepares to open its borders and lift lockdown laws, it was important the airline remains vigilant "now more than ever".
"A second wave of infections would cause untold economic damage and misery to all communities," Mr Brooksby said.
"The health and safety of passengers and employees is paramount and we thank our passengers for putting up with the inconvenience as an act of consideration for our staff and other passengers."
Passengers are to use their own masks, but anyone flying with Rex can purchase a mask at check-in.
Passengers will be denied boarding if they refuse to wear a mask except if there are exceptional reasons.
The health and safety of passengers and employees is paramount
- Rex National Airports Manager, David Brooksby
The masks must be worn at Rex check-in counters, at boarding gates, during tarmac transfer both at boarding and disembarkation - including any bus transfers - and whilst on board the aircraft.
Mr Brooksby said Rex is already enforcing significant changes to minimise the risk of infection.
"Including the proactive and unprecedented measure of body temperature testing of passengers and employees," he added.
"Since early March, Rex has endeavoured to space out seating allocation of all passengers to facilitate social distancing. Unrelated parties will not be assigned seats next to each other when and where possible."
The airline is already working what it calls a "bare-bones schedule" across its network, which is currently being largely funded by Commonwealth grants.
The downsized schedule includes flights from Orange to Sydney on Tuesdays and Fridays, and cancellations have been made to a number of services due to the pandemic.
In line with the company's Conditions of Carriage and the Australian Consumer Law, passengers affected by cancelled flights are entitled to a refund.
"Rex will increase its flights in line with the return of regional travel and has already done so in some ports where demand is showing some signs of recovery," Rex said in a statement.
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