Boeing and Airbus study how coronavirus behaves during air travel

Boeing and Airbus are researching the new coronavirus’s behavior inside jetliners, part of an industry push to curb risks that have brought air traffic to a near standstill. Their work will involve academics, engineers and medical experts expected to examine new measures to prevent disease transmission on airplanes, according to the companies and people involved in their discussions. The effort to better understand air-travel risks during the pandemic comes as airlines try to reassure nervous passengers that masks and filtered cabin air provide reliable protection from infection in flight. Boeing said it is developing computer models that simulate the cabin environment and could ultimately inform decisions by airlines, health officials and regulators on how to prevent the virus’s spread. “We’re taking steps to better understand any potential risks,” a spokesman said. Airbus said the plane maker is exchanging information with universities in the US and other countries. Airbus engineers are also exploring other methods of reducing the spread of the virus including self-cleaning materials, a disinfectant that can last for five days and touchless devices in lavatories, the company said. The FAA has been in touch with Boeing, Airbus and experts at the CDC to assess coronavirus risks for fliers and how to mitigate them, people familiar with those discussions said. The CDC said its experts participated in a call with the FAA and Boeing about recommendations concerning Covid-19 and travel. Story has more.<br/>