No catering on SA flights
New regulations gazetted yesterday by the minister of transport forbid domestic air operators from providing in-flight catering and further state that passengers on domestic flights may not eat on board the aircraft. The only exception is the provision of bottled water.
The update came in support of better adherence to mask-wearing on aircraft to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“Air travel and the spread of the coronavirus have been totally conflated in our minds ,” says Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair. “People weren’t necessarily getting ill on aircraft, rather it’s the act of infected folks travelling from one community to another that perpetuated the spread of the disease.”
Several recent studies have confirmed that the sophisticated air filtration and management systems within modern airline cabins make them safer environments than most public spaces. This has made it possible for carriers around the world to fill up aircraft, without leaving open seats.
“We’ve been operating with strict protocols in place since 15 June last year, and of all departments in our business, the rate of Covid-19 cases among our cabin crew is very low,” says Gordon.
A recent article from
MIT Medical assessed the safety of air travel during a pandemic. In the article, it cites a 2018 study from the University of Florida, which found a low probability of direct transmission of infectious diseases, such as influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome during flights.
MIT further notes that this study was conducted before the introduction of masks which add a significant layer of protection.
This is the primary factor motivating the new regulations concerning the consumption of food on aircraft.
Several local airlines had recommenced with onboard catering, which has afforded passengers the opportunity to drop their masks for extended periods of time.
“Not having catering on board does steal from the experience for passengers and it is a revenue stream we would love to have.
“However, it is the just the right thing to do, and we stand by the government’s decision,” says Gordon.