Fly safely during the COVID-19 pandemic


When air travel restarts toward normalcy, passengers must continue to fly safely


United Airlines flight landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Copyright © 2015 NSL Photography. All Rights Reserved.The world is moving toward allowing travel again. Once the COVID-19 outbreak is controlled enough to permit a slow move toward normalcy, travel will restart. It will likely begin before a COVID-19 vaccine is ready.

Commercial aircraft cabins have close quarters. Even if seats are blocked off, in-flight social distancing will likely be insufficient to alone prevent the spread of COVID-19. On the other hand, there are requirements and protocols that can be instituted by governmental aviation regulators and airlines, plus commonsense actions by passengers that can improve the safety of flight crews and air travelers until a vaccine is available.

I have a total of twenty fly safely recommendations for aviation regulators, airlines, and travelers to stay as safe as possible while the COVID-19 vaccine is being developed.

Preventing air travelers from contracting COVID-19 must start before leaving for the airport.

Immunity Passports:
Assuming that people who have recovered from COVID-19 are immune to the virus, some countries are considering requiring air travelers to have an immunity passport, a document stating that they’ve recovered from COVID-19. At this time, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), we don’t know if all COVID-19 victims will be immune to the virus or for how long. Until we know more about COVID-19 immunity, the potential for fake documents, and the potential for discrimination against much of the population, I recommend governments do more diligence before adopting this proposal.

Gloves:
Whether you touch your face with or without gloves, you’ll still potentially transport the virus to your face. Moreover, if you don’t take the gloves off properly, you’ll contaminate yourself. Forget the gloves. Wash your hands. It is the best and easiest way to fly safely.

Passengers waiting for COVID-19 test results or those who tested positive in the last 14 days shouldn’t be allowed to fly.

Flight ban:
Air travelers who have tested positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of their flight or who are awaiting test results should not be permitted to fly.

Vaccinations:
Travelers should have all their vaccinations up to date to prevent complications from other diseases in case they contract COVID-19.

Seating:
Choose a window seat at booking or check-in — it’s likely the best seat on the plane to fly safely. You’ll come in contact with fewer people than in an aisle seat.

Hot-Spot Information:
Before flying, make sure you’re not traveling into a COVID-19 hot-spot. Review information at WHO, the CDC, and the U.S. Department of State.

Travel Insurance:
If you’re purchasing travel insurance, be certain it will actually provide COVID-19 coverage.

Once you leave for the airport:
Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth except immediately after hand washing or using hand sanitizer.

Until a vaccine is available, travelers should get rapid COVID-19 testing at the airport before being permitted to fly.

Rapid test for COVID-19:
At the airport, travelers should be required to take a rapid COVID-19 test to ensure they don’t have the virus before flying. This requirement should remain in place until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. Putting this requirement into action will require a major upgrade of the testing capability of the U.S. and the rest of the world. Emirates has already begun using this procedure on some of its flights.

Social Distancing:
Passengers should social distance everywhere, at all times in the airport, whether standing, walking, or sitting.

Handwashing or Sanitizing:
Before eating, touching your face, etc., make sure you use a hand sanitizer or preferably, wash your hands.

Face Masks:
To protect those around you in the airport, wear a face mask over your nose and mouth.

Don’t depend on the airport to sanitize your seat at the gate. Do it yourself.

Sanitize Seating:
While airports have generally improved their cleaning and sanitization, use an alcohol-based wipe to sanitize wherever you sit in the airport.

Lavatory:
If possible, use a lavatory at the airport rather than in the aircraft to help minimize your chance of infection, because they are larger and cleaner.


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During your flight, it’s up to you to stay safe.

Sanitize your Seating Area:
The airlines are cleaning and sanitizing their planes more thoroughly than in the past. Some are using or considering using highly effective electrostatic sanitizer spraying. Regardless, don’t depend on the airlines. Use alcohol-based sanitizer wipes to clean your seating area, including the tray table, seat, armrests, etc., — anything you’ll contact. I also recommend not using the seat pocket, as it’s almost always filthy.

Lavatory Sink Water vs. Hand Sanitizer:
If you need to wash your hands on your flight, you might want to use a hand sanitizer rather than the sink in the lavatory. Often, commercial airplane lavatory sink water is far from germ-free, so instead, use a hand sanitizer.

Social Distance Seating:
Adjust where you’re sitting, if at all possible, to try to social distance yourself from other passengers.

Face Mask:
Wear a face mask at all times, unless eating or drinking.

While the air circulating in the cabin is filtered, it won’t knock out COVID-19 from passengers coughing and sneezing near you.

Air in the Aircraft Cabin:
The air in modern commercial aircraft is cleaned with HEPA filters. They filter 99.9 percent of dust and airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria. Local air may be contaminated by passengers coughing and sneezing. If you’re near such passengers, try to move to another seat.

Humidity in the Aircraft Cabin:
Consider using a nasal spray to counteract the low humidity that dries passengers’ mucous membranes. The nose is less effective in blocking viruses when dry.

While we wait for a vaccine, follow the above recommendations. They can help you remain safe and healthy if flying during the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of them can only be implemented by governments and the airlines, you can help yourself by following recommendations air travelers can fulfill on their own.

(Image: United Airlines flight landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Copyright © 2015 NSL Photography. All Rights Reserved.)

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