Several airlines and airports have said they will continue to require passengers to wear face coverings, while UK rail, bus and coach operators will not require it after 19 July when the government relaxes the rules in England.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said on Wednesday that he always “expected and indeed wanted” some train, bus and rail companies to insist on mask-wearing on their services.

The minister said he backed the decision of Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, to carry on requiring face coverings on public transport in the capital even though the government had previously said it wanted to move to a system of “common sense” and “personal responsibility” when it comes to mask-wearing.

Aviation

Airlines said passengers and crew would still have to wear face coverings, in line with European rules. Ryanair said: “In line with European Union Aviation Safety Agency/European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control guidelines and in order to protect the health of our customers and crew, the use of face masks will still be mandatory across all Ryanair flights, regardless of the departing/destination country.”

EasyJet said: “At present there are no changes to easyJet’s onboard mask policy and we will continue to keep this under review. We continue to be guided by our in-house medical adviser and a number of key industry governing bodies that airlines follow.”

Wizz Air also said face masks for passengers and crew would remain mandatory onboard its aircraft for the full duration of its flights.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: “Airports are unique environments with an international passenger profile. This is why face coverings were mandatory at Heathrow before the government made them a legal requirement and they will continue to be mandatory at the airport after 19 July.”

Gatwick airport said passengers must wear face coverings throughout the terminal buildings and all staff would wear masks in public areas. Stansted also said that it would continue to ask passengers to wear a face covering while at the airport, and that most, if not all, of its airlines would require a face covering as a requirement of travel.

Rail

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said face coverings would no longer be mandatory but should be worn onboard trains and inside stations if it is busy.

“Passengers should follow the government guidance and, as a courtesy to others, wear face coverings if an indoor setting is busy,” the spokesperson said. “Train travel is low risk, with the majority of carriages well ventilated by air conditioning systems or by doors and windows.”

Buses and coaches

Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT), which represents 95% of buses in the UK, including the operators Stagecoach, Arriva, FirstGroup, National Express and Go-Ahead, said it would not make face coverings on bus and coach services compulsory.

A CPT spokesperson said: “It’s an issue for government. They have access to the science.” He urged passengers to recognise government advice and to be respectful towards others. CPT expects its members to follow its recommendation.

A Go-Ahead spokesperson said: “We will follow whatever guidance or regulation we are given by the government or local authorities.”

A National Express spokesperson said: “We are all responsible for keeping each other safe … We will ask [customers] to continue to be considerate of others and respect their personal choices.”