EasyJet launches comic book face masks to reassure children on flights

‘I hope these fun designs, inspired by comic book characters, help to encourage kids to wear their masks onboard,’ says illustrator

EasyJet's comic book face mask (easyJet)

Comic book-themed masks will be handed out to children on easyJet flights to help reassure children about the new requirement to wear face coverings.

The budget airline will be distributing the masks to children flying on certain routes once it restarts operations on 15 June to ease anxiety.

The masks feature illustrations of pilots and lions, and are designed to be worn on top of a child’s personal face covering.

Travellers will be required to wear face coverings at the airport and on the plane at all times as part of easyJet’s enhanced safety measures.

Food and drink will no longer be served onboard flights, while hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes will be available for passengers.

The mask designs were created by Will Sliney, an Irish illustrator who has worked on Spider Man and Star Wars comics.

“Flying with face masks is going to be a new experience for everyone, especially young children, so I hope these fun designs, inspired by comic book characters, help to encourage kids to wear their masks onboard,” he said.

“I have used a combination of a lion animal character and a futuristic pilot to create a set of mask covers to bring out the inner superhero in all young flyers.”

Captain David Morgan, easyJet’s director of flight operations, said: “We have teamed up with a comic illustrator to create some bespoke children’s face mask covers as we know the airport environment could feel different and possibly daunting for younger travellers when flying initially resumes.

”So we hope these face mask covers help children enjoy flying with us over the summer and this makes things a little easier for parents too.“

The UK aviation and travel industries have been badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with the introduction of a 14-day quarantine for all travellers entering the country from 8 June set to add another nail to the coffin.

The Foreign Office is still issuing a blanket ban on all non-essential international travel with no end date announced.