Aviation industry prepares for sweeping changes in post-pandemic travel
Tina is standing in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport with her one-and-a-half year old daughter, on her way home to Kinshasa from London. “The flight was full, no seats between us and other people,” said the 30-year-old. “They didn’t take our temperature and that worried me.” But that will soon change because ADP, which runs Charles de Gaulle, put in place temperature checks this month to scan passengers as the aviation industry rushes to restore confidence in travellers and restart a sector that has been decimated by the pandemic. The airport shows the physical signs of what has quickly become a new normal. Social distance markers divide floor space in front of check-in desks, seats in departure lounges carry stickers warning people to sit apart, Perspex protects staff as they assign seats, and at every entrance masks and gels await those braving air travel. “Just like after 9/11, travellers needed assurance that there are no weapons on-board. Now they will need to be reassured by airlines and airports that there are no viruses on board,” said Shashank Nigam, CE of SimpliFlying, an aviation consultancy. Most carriers and airports insist on face masks for passengers and staff, as well as provide hand sanitisers and conduct deeper cabin cleaning. The industry has been keen to reassure passengers that air travel is safe. Boeing’s Jim Haas, director of product marketing, says the air on board is “virus free” thanks to Hepa filters on all modern aircraft. These filter air to the quality of a hospital operating theatre. Some airports such as Hong Kong have gone one stage further with Covid-19 tests for arrivals. In future, immunity passports could be included as temporary biosecurity measures. Flights will look different: some airlines will offer no food, or at best pre-packaged items, and magazines have been removed. Ryanair’s customers will be banned from queueing for the toilet. Some carriers, such as Air France, have also introduced temperature checks before flights. <br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2020-05-26/general/aviation-industry-prepares-for-sweeping-changes-in-post-pandemic-travel
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Aviation industry prepares for sweeping changes in post-pandemic travel
Tina is standing in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport with her one-and-a-half year old daughter, on her way home to Kinshasa from London. “The flight was full, no seats between us and other people,” said the 30-year-old. “They didn’t take our temperature and that worried me.” But that will soon change because ADP, which runs Charles de Gaulle, put in place temperature checks this month to scan passengers as the aviation industry rushes to restore confidence in travellers and restart a sector that has been decimated by the pandemic. The airport shows the physical signs of what has quickly become a new normal. Social distance markers divide floor space in front of check-in desks, seats in departure lounges carry stickers warning people to sit apart, Perspex protects staff as they assign seats, and at every entrance masks and gels await those braving air travel. “Just like after 9/11, travellers needed assurance that there are no weapons on-board. Now they will need to be reassured by airlines and airports that there are no viruses on board,” said Shashank Nigam, CE of SimpliFlying, an aviation consultancy. Most carriers and airports insist on face masks for passengers and staff, as well as provide hand sanitisers and conduct deeper cabin cleaning. The industry has been keen to reassure passengers that air travel is safe. Boeing’s Jim Haas, director of product marketing, says the air on board is “virus free” thanks to Hepa filters on all modern aircraft. These filter air to the quality of a hospital operating theatre. Some airports such as Hong Kong have gone one stage further with Covid-19 tests for arrivals. In future, immunity passports could be included as temporary biosecurity measures. Flights will look different: some airlines will offer no food, or at best pre-packaged items, and magazines have been removed. Ryanair’s customers will be banned from queueing for the toilet. Some carriers, such as Air France, have also introduced temperature checks before flights. <br/>
