9 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU FLY AGAIN
In the foreseeable future, passengers are set to experience a ‘layered’ approach to bio-security measures that go with flying
Do airline filters work and is it safe to fly during a pandemic? The short answer: Yes.
These are the questions that linger in the mind of international passengers as commercial flights start to return to the skies. Both are valid questions, but an affirmative answer also holds caveats. Air travel in the time of Covid-19 has changed remarkably. In the foreseeable future, passengers are set to experience a “layered” approach to bio-security measures that go with flying.
As it stands, the travel trade remains generally weak. And there are no guarantees, owing to the nature of the virus and the uncertainty of a vaccine. But there are faint stirrings of a reawakening of the global aviation industry, and there’s an expectation that when traveller confidence is back and borders fully re-open, demand for air travel will soar.
1
When the unthinkable happened
The virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, around December 2019. On January 29, 2020, Dubai authorities reported the UAE’s first case of coronavirus in a family of four from Wuhan city. That day, the virus has already claimed 132 lives and infected about 6,000 people across the globe.
Then the unthinkable happened: The aviation and the global economy in general ground to a halt, with more than 500,000 flights cancelled in February and March. As a result of the pandemic, air traffic around the world came to a near halt.
In Dubai, where more than 1,000 aircraft movements were seen daily, the civil aviation industry came to a virtual standstill. By April, there were almost no commercial flights anywhere in the world. Air traffic went down to about 90 per cent.
2
Air travel is back again – with new safety measures
Fast forward three months. Most people are already thinking about travel, but are not ready to fly, due to standing quarantine procedures in different countries.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meanwhile, has issued an exhaustive social guideline measures for various sections – while stressing that most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights and therefore it’s relatively safe to fly. The CDC also did not recommend following social distancing between passengers inside a plane or keeping the middle seat unoccupied.
Experts across the health care and tourism industries, however, say it could be 18 to 24 months before travel picks back up. In particular, air travel is seen recovering, but only slowly — unless a vaccine is out soon. Until then, travellers will be taking it all in, trying to understand the risks.
3
Green shoots of recovery in aviation
There are currently green shoots of recovery emerging from the aviation industry wrecked by Covid-19.
Emirates resumed commercial flights on May 21, starting with nine destinations (London, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne) and Sharjah-based Air Arabia opened regular flight bookings from June 1. So did Saudi Arabian Airlines. The domestic aviation industry in other countries is getting back to normal, as passengers are returning to the skies.
But a marked improvement in air travel might need to wait until summer of 2021, according to Emirates airline’s president.
“We will start to see an uptick, quite a large uptick in demand,” Tim Clark said, adding that Emirates would be able to get its fleet ready within 48 hours if it had to. “I think probably by the year 2022-23, 2023-24 we will see things coming back to some degree of normality and Emirates will be operating its network as it was — and hopefully as successfully as it was,” he said earlier this week.
The airline was flying to 157 destinations in 83 countries before it grounded passenger flights in March and has since operated limited services. Emirates has warned that the current period would be the most difficult in its 35-year history. Clark agreed with IATA’s recommendations, saying that physical distancing on planes was not economically and environmentally practical because it would mean flying aircraft half empty. Emirates will for now continue to ask passengers to wear gloves and face masks onboard, he told Reuters.
While air travel resumes and planes take back to the skies, IATA, CDC and ICAO have urged passengers to follow safety guidelines to ensure that their journey as well as their fellow passengers remains safe. Here’s a Q&A based on CDC recommendations:
4 Can flying on an airplane increase my risk of getting Covid-19?
Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces. The key here is to follow best practices for public safety and hygiene, and minimise any risk. Global airlines such as Emirates have already adopted safety protocols to ensure that travel is safe.
5 Before going to the airport, how should I prepare?
Flying has always been a high-touch exercise so think about all those points and how you can minimise them. Wrapping yourself head to toe in plastic wrap is not really necessary, but you should carry — and use — a mask, wipes and hand sanitiser. Some experts suggest wearing gloves, although the Centres for Disease Control’s guidance suggests they are not necessary.
Most airlines such as Emirates have suggested that travellers download their app for touchless boarding, which will minimise the number of times you have to hand over documents or touch screens.
6 What should I expect at the airport?
Lots of cleaning. Airports in the UAE and around the world have been cleaning everything — from the floors and surfaces to the air —more rigorously. Some airports are using something called Continuous Air and Surface Pathogen Reduction, a system that continuously sanitises air and surfaces. CASPR attacks pathogens by converting oxygen and moisture into hydrogen peroxide and releasing that into the air.
Pittsburgh International recently became the first US airport to use robots with UV-C rays to clean and disinfect the floors in high-traffic areas. Other airports have increased hand sanitiser stations throughout the airport as well as the regularity with which they are cleaning; in some cases it’s hourly. Many are also requiring all passengers to wear masks.
Many airport shops may be closed, and not all airlines are serving food on flights, so you may want to bring your own food for the plane. Most airports are discouraging the use of cash. You may want to make sure you have a tap-to-pay card or have set up contactless payments like Apple Pay on your phone.
7 Do I need to keep my mask on?
Yes, most airlines are asking people to keep them on for the duration of their flight. You should know that the air on the plane is pretty clean: Commercial planes recycle cabin air using High Efficiency Particulate Air (Hepa) filters, so that the air is scrubbed. Hepa filters catch 99 per cent of airborne microbes, according to the International Air Transportation Association (IATA). Masks can be taken off to eat and drink on airlines that are serving meals.
8 Can travelling to visit my family or friends increase the chances of spreading Covid-19?
The CDC recommends that people avoid all non-essential international travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some health care systems are overwhelmed and there may be limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas. Many countries are implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice. People at higher risk for severe illness need to take extra precautions.
9 What happens if there is a sick passenger on a flight?
Under current federal regulations, pilots must report all illnesses and deaths to relevant health authorities before arriving at their destination.
According to CDC disease protocols, if a sick traveler is considered a risk to public health, it will work with local and state health departments and international public health agencies to contact exposed passengers and crew. Be sure to give the airline your current contact information when booking your ticket so you can be notified if you are exposed to a sick traveller on a flight.