IATA calls for end to in-flight distancing measures but no bathroom queues

The trade association for the world's major airlines is proposing a range of measures aimed at relaunching the global air travel industry — including an end to in-flight physical distancing rules — that run counter to the established policies of Canadian carriers and the federal government. The IATA's roadmap to restarting commercial flights suggests that passenger face coverings have "obviated" the need for physical distancing on board, that aircraft seats provide a further barrier to viral transmission and that air filtration systems are equivalent to those at hospital operating theatres. Nonetheless, the trade group backs a ban on washroom lineups to reduce "congregation of passengers" in the cabin. "If we don't take these first steps in a harmonized way, we will spend many painful years recovering ground that should not have been lost,” said IATA DG Alexandre de Juniac. IATA's other proposed in-flight measures include pre-packaged meals to reduce interaction between passengers and crew and frequent "deep cleaning" of the cabin. But even with those precautions — already in place at most airlines — packing travellers into a plane is "really inviting disaster," said Tim Sly, epidemiologist and professor emeritus at Ryerson University’s School of Public Health. "That’s bad enough, putting 250 people in an aluminium cigar tube, all elbow to elbow breathing the same air for two, three, four, five, 10 hours," Sly said. He conceded modern airplanes have "a heck of a filter system built in," but said masks alone cannot prevent the on-board spread of COVID-19.<br/>