How does social distancing work when flying
People are told to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 lockdown. The guidelines call for people to stay at least six feet away from each other. This may work fine when people queue at supermarkets and only a limited number of shoppers are allowed in at a time, but how is it going to work at the airport? More importantly, how does one enforce social distancing onboard an aircraft? The current situation calls for a series of measures that airlines are implementing to carry out its operation as safely as possible for both passengers and crew. Here’s what some carriers are doing.
Before boarding the plane
Safe travel when flying begins long before getting on board the plane. It starts at the airport and ends at the airport. The changes include communication about 'social distance' at check-in, gates, and service and transfer desks. In some airports Protective barriers have been installed at each check-in desk to provide additional safety measures. Payment for services and purchases at the airport may have to be done by debit or credit card or via the phone. Cabin baggage is currently not accepted on all Emirates flights Carry-on items allowed in the cabin are limited to laptop, handbag, briefcase or baby items. All other items have to be checked in, and Emirates will add the cabin baggage allowance to customers’ check-in baggage allowance. Other airlines may follow the same.
Passenger screening
Several countries have recently imposed measures on airlines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. These require all passengers to undergo a health check before boarding. This may range from passengers being physically observed, to temperature checks or/and completing a health screening form, whereupon, a passenger could be denied boarding on the basis of the answers provided. Emirates became the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for departing passengers. The quick blood test where the results are available in 10 minutes provides immediate confirmation for passengers travelling to countries that require COVID-19 test certificates. Again, other airlines may adapt this procedure as well.
Seat Blocking
First of all, gone will be selecting your own seat and being able to check-in online. Some airlines take in-flight social distancing to a new level by limiting where you can sit on the airplane. When the passenger load factor is low - which is the norm nowadays, as much as space as possible is created around the passenger by keeping seats empty. For example, all adjacent seats in Economy class on all Lufthansa flights leaving Germany are blocked and kept free. Others are simply removing all middle seats on wide-bodied aircraft and aisle seats on smaller planes.
Service on board
One of the most important principles to ensure the safety of passengers and crew is to minimize the contact moments between crew and passengers. Almost all major airlines are holding or limiting their in-flight refreshments to cut down on contact. This has an impact on onboard service. The offer of catering has therefore been simplified. Everyone will receive tray service with modified packaging and presentation…yes everyone, including those in Business Class.
A la Carte dining is out, as are cold dishes, cold meat/fish, beverage service… and ice cubes.
In some airlines, except for special needs, catering service will no longer be provided during the flight. Passengers would be provided pre-packaged food and bottled water before or during boarding. Others may place pre-packaged food and bottled drinking water in the back pocket of the front seat before boarding. Some airlines may go so far as to encourage passengers to bring their own food and beverages on board – but that’s fraught with problems of odors, which fellow passengers might find obnoxious.
Other measures to reduce contact between passengers and crew as well as between passengers include the suspension of in-flight shopping. Distribution of pillows/ blankets will no longer happen. Do not expect to receive refreshing towels before or during take=off. Headphones will be disposable - the airline will cease to collect them. All seatback contents, including magazines and other print reading materials, except for the safety card will be removed to limit the spread of germs.
Hygiene on board
Crew may wear mouth caps and protective gloves depending on the risk-level of the flight. There would be extra hygiene equipment on board, such as hand sanitizers, and on every flight a toilet will be kept free exclusively for the crew. This gives them unrestricted access to a place where they can look after themselves and wash their hands regularly – especially before and after preparation and serving of meals. Lavatory should be cleaned and disinfected once every 2 hours (or after being used 10 times) during flight. (On high-risk flights-cleaning is every one hour or after being used 5 times).
Enhanced aircraft cleaning procedures including preventive disinfecting between flights (stopover, turn-around and end-of-flight) would take place. In addition to using high-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, the filters would be replaced regularly to cleanse the air of potentially harmful particles and viruses.
Flights operated by transport airlines can be divided into three levels, namely high, medium and low-risk flights. Differentiated prevention and control measures would be implemented for different risk levels, and Risk levels could be adjusted in real time in line with the development of the epidemic. So, things can change dramatically between the time you leave home for the airport and the time you get there.
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