On 15 April 2020, the European Commission, in cooperation with the President of the European Council, put forward a Joint European Roadmap setting out recommendations on lifting COVID-19 containment measures1. As called for in the Roadmap, on 13 May 2020, the Commission put forward further guidelines on how to progressively restore transport services, connectivity and free movement as swiftly as the health situation allows it, while protecting the health of transport workers and passengers2. The Commission Communication mandated EASA and ECDC to issue jointly more detailed technical operational guidance for the aviation sector. In line with this, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have developed the following guidelines. Their purpose is to serve as an aviation health safety protocol and to provide a source of best practice on how airport operators, aeroplane operators conducting commercial and non-commercial passenger transport operations and national aviation authorities can ensure the health and safety of passengers, as well as the staff and crew who serve them, by maintaining safe and secure operations whilst minimising the risk of virus transmission. This should complement the advice of public health authorities and help employers in their duties under the relevant legislation on protection of workers' health and safety.