Garuda to drop masks for service with a smile

A more human touch: Garuda Indonesia stewardesses smiling at the Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Tangerang. — The Jakarta Post/ANN

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is planning to replace the face masks worn by its flight attendants with an alternative form of personal protective equipment after passengers complained that the masks affected their perception of the cabin crew’s hospitality.

Since the airline resumed domestic flights on May 7, flight attendants have worn face masks and gloves as part of the health protocols put in place to prevent Covid-19 transmission.