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MIDDLE SEATS
As governments worldwide pushed for social distancing measures to curb the spread of the disease, a debate began to rage in the aviation industry about whether middle seats should be left empty. According to a survey by travel analytics and consulting firm Atmosphere Research, passengers are willing to pay 16 to 17 per cent more on average to fly on an airline that blocks the middle seat.
Delta has promised to keep middle seats empty until next year. Bill Lentsch, its chief customer experience officer, said in August: “We believe that taking care of our customers and employees and restoring confidence in the safety of air travel is more important right now than filling up every seat on a plane.”
Others, such as Qantas, have opposed such a move, saying it is ineffective and will raise the price of fares. “Social distancing on an aircraft isn’t practical the way it is on the ground, and, given the low transmission risk on board, we don’t believe it’s necessary in order to be safe. The extra measures we’re putting in place will reduce the risk even further,” said Qantas group medical director Ian Hosegood in May, citing the use of HEPA filters and face masks.
Qantas’s stance has been echoed by industry body IATA (the International Air Transport Association), which in May said it supported the wearing of face masks during a flight rather than “mandating” social distancing measures on board that would bring “dramatic cost increases” to air travel.
Some airlines, such as Cathay Pacific, are promising to create social distancing on aircraft only if passenger numbers allow it. Virgin Atlantic states on its website: “Where possible, depending on how busy your flight is, we’ll try and leave empty seats between travellers who are on separate bookings.”
In May, the European Commission issued recommendations for airlines in Europe for cautiously restarting travel. It emphasised the use of masks but did not say leaving middle seats empty was a requirement.
A number of major European carriers, such as British Airways, Air France and Ryanair, are not blocking middle seats. However, German budget carrier Eurowings is letting passengers pay extra to keep it free. In August, the Lufthansa subsidiary said it had been trialling the service and had sold more than 5,000 middle seats in this way without actively
promoting the option. It formally launched the scheme in September on all Eurowings routes within Europe, saying that keeping the middle seat free would cost from €18 per flight.
IN-FLIGHT SERVICE
Many airlines have scaled down their meal service to minimise touch and interaction between passengers and crew. Some have removed menus and are serving pre-packaged food only. On short-haul flights, carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia are serving snacks only, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s recommendations to either limit or discontinue food and drink services on short-haul flights or offer packaged food in sealed or prepackaged containers.
Hot meals are still offered on most major airlines on long-haul routes, but services have been adapted to limit contact. Qatar Airways brings out business class meals covered on a tray, similar to the way they are usually served to economy class flyers,
instead of offering its usual multiplecourse service, with cutlery also wrapped.
It has also introduced single-use menu cards in business class.
Meals and cutlery in economy class are sealed, and menus are not being provided.
Carriers have also removed magazines and other literature from seatback pockets, instead encouraging the use of digital options.
HYGIENE KITS
The Covid-19 crisis could lead to a new norm in flying: giving passengers cleaning or hygiene supplies on board. A number of carriers are dishing out “hygiene kits”, a bit like amenity kits but with face masks, hand sanitiser and sometimes gloves instead of skincare products, toothbrushes and socks. Delta rolled out such a kit in
June, and many have followed suit. Cathay Pacific provides a “Cathay Care Kit” comprising a face covering and antiseptic wipes, while Malaysia Airlines’ kit contains hand sanitiser, a non-surgical face mask and sanitary wipes, packed in a sealed zip-lock pouch designed “for passengers to comfortably keep in their pockets”.
Etihad Airways has introduced “wellness kits” that include a face mask, gloves and hand sanitiser, while first and business class passengers get reusable snood-style face masks that have been treated with “a broadspectrum antimicrobial treatment, laboratory tested and proven to reduce the presence of germs in fabrics”.
Qatar Airways, in addition to providing care kits, is giving economy passengers face shields as an extra protective measure. Passengers travelling in economy must now wear both a mask and shield “at all times” (apart from when eating and drinking), including when boarding and disembarking. Business and first class passengers are exempt.
Many airlines have scaled down their meal service to minimise touch and interaction