The travel and aviation industries are gearing up for the new normal of air travel
When you think of air travel, you might be reminded of chilling at the airport lounge before a flight, the hot towelettes upon boarding, or the unlimited drink services throughout the flight. However in the post-COVID-19 era, these are some of the services you might not get to experience anymore.
As we all look forward to exploring the world once more, the flying experience we once knew may never be the same again.
Photo by Margo Brodowicz
Signs of hope for travel have been reported around the world as countries like Spain begin to ease travel restrictions to its neighbours and Japan looks towards promoting domestic travel.
With the implementation of general community quarantine in certain parts of the Philippines, hopefully at least local travel would be permitted soon.
Additional safety measures will be the new normal
Photo by chuttersnap
Airports and airline carriers around the world have already begun testing and implementing new sets of safety measures to give travellers ease of mind about their health, and of course prevent another outbreak from happening.
A report by aviation marketing consultancy SimpliFlying has predicted some ways that air travel will change in the future, and how some of these measures will be here to stay.
1. Mandatory health checks before and after flights
With there already being regulations in countries where visitors must self-quarantine for at least 14 days upon arrival, these checks will be vital in early detection and prevention of the virus spreading without the hassle of being in quarantine.
Like most public spaces, temperature checks are being done through thermal scanners, so don't expect anything less before entering the airport. It has also been reported that on-the-spot blood tests are also being done to check for infection.
2. Face masks and gloves to be worn at all times
As wearing masks have been made mandatory at almost all public places, it comes to no surprise that it would be the same on flights too. As an added precaution, flight crew will also be required to wear a full set of PPEs.
Wearing face masks are mandatory in most, if not all, public places. So it comes to no surprise that it would be required on flights as well. As an added precaution, several airlines such as Emirates, have required passengers boarding from Dubai International Airport to sport surgical gloves, so we wouldn't be shocked if other airlines require this of their passengers as well.
On that note, flight attendants and crew are also required to wear a full PPE suit in order to serve the passengers.
3. Touch-less check-ins and services
Wireless scanning is fast becoming seamless and common, and this type of technology will surely help prevent the spread of the virus through reduction of physical contact.
From flight information to essentials, expect to get everything you need just by scanning your phones through touchless vending machines and check-ins, which are being trailed in Abu Dhabi airport currently. However, this means that there will be fewer staff on site.
Hopefully soon, Philippine airports can soon adapt to these touch-less services as airlines move towards increasing their daily flights.
4. In-flight Janitors
An extra emphasis on sanitisation is what the future of air travel will look like. Like how security was boosted after 9/11 in the form of Sky Marshals, the in-flight janitors duty on a flight is to ensure the constant cleanliness of the cabin.
5. “Sanitagging” of bags
In addition to self-sanitation, luggages will also have to be disinfected. This will be done either by fogging, electrostatic or UV-disinfection, which SimpliFlying dubs "sanitagging."
6. Social distancing
Be it the boarding area or in the airplane cabin, social distancing measures will be of utmost importance. Some measures that are currently in place for most airlines include: blocking of middle seats in cabins, closure of social spaces in the aircraft, staggered boarding times for passengers, and pausing all automatic upgrades for the time-being.
As for airports, waiting areas by gates will be expanded to make way for distancing between passengers, queues will also be longer to make space for social distancing, and most airport lounges will remain closed until further notice.
7. Deep cleaning of aircrafts
Aircraft will now have to undergo a deep clean after every flight. This will put pressure on turnaround times and the budget carriers that use that to their advantage, probably marking the end of the 30-minute turnaround.
Photo by Louis Wai
With all these factors for additional safety checks and the sanitation of bags in place, preparing for your flight might take longer than before. And the timing that you will need to be at the airport by would be much earlier too, due to the extra procedures.
Safety measures from airlines
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines have issued their official health and safety precautions on their website.
- All passengers must bring their own face masks to use at the airport and throughout the flight. If a passenger does not have a face mask, they will be denied boarding. Passengers travelling to Singapore, Xiamen, Macau or Honolulu have additional requirements for facemasks.
- Bring your own sanitizers with a maximum content of 70% alcohol, up to 10pcs of 100mL as part of carry-on.
- Stricter requirements for carry-on baggage listed here. In addition to your carry-on baggage, only two of the listed items are allowed.
- Online check-in is encouraged.
Visit Philippine Airlines for more information of their amended health and safety precautions.
Cebu Pacific Air
Cebu Pacific Air have increased their safety and disinfection measures, as listed on Smile Magazine.
- All Cebu Pacific ground staff are required to wear PPEs on duty.
- Check-in kiosks, bag drop counters, and shuttle buses will undergo frequent disinfection procedures.
- No touch boarding: online check-ins are strongly advised and scanning of boarding passes will be done by holding out your passes.
- Passengers will have to stow their own carry-on baggage and practice self-disposal at the end of the flight.
- Middle seats will be vacant for social distancing.
More on Cebu Pacific's safety measures on the Smile website.
Air Asia
Air Asia has these precautionary safety measures in place to protect both its passengers and crew.
- Passengers must bring and wear their own masks at all times throughout the flight
- One piece of cabin baggage is allowed for each passenger
- Aircrafts will go through a deep cleaning at every night stop
- Social distancing will be observed during check-in with markers on the floor
- Contactless web and mobile check-in will be available to reduce surface and physical contact
Singapore Airlines, SlikAir and Scoot
Singapore carriers have implemented these new measures for all upcoming flights.
- Passengers must bring and wear their own masks at all times throughout the flight
- Singapore Airlines and Scoot passengers will receive a complimentary Care Kit which includes a surgical mask, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitisers
- Passengers must observe safe distancing when embarking, disembarking and queueing for the lavatory
- Inbound travellers to Singapore will undergo a basic health assessment before boarding
- Meal services will be suspended for flights within Southeast Asia and services to China, all other flights will have meals
- Inflight services and magazines will not be available
- Cabin baggage will be limited to 3kg while the remaining cabin baggage will need to be checked in at no additional cost
Emirates
While restarting regular passenger flights to nine international destinations from Dubai airports, the airline has put the following measures in place.
- Free hygiene kits will be given to all passengers
- Gloves and masks must be worn at the airport and masks are compulsory on flights
- Passengers will enter the aircraft by exact row rather than zones, from the back of the plane to the front
- Lavatories will be sanitised every 45minutes during the flight
Qatar Airways
Still operating flights to more than 30 destinations around the world, Qatar Airways has further enhanced its onboard safety measures for both its passengers and crew.
- Passengers must bring and wear their own masks at all times throughout the flight
- Flight crew will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits during the flight
- Business class meals will be served on a tray instead of a table set up
- Large bottles of hand sanitiser will be placed in the galleys for both passengers and crew to use
- Social areas onboard will be closed due to social distancing measures
We will be updating this article as more information regarding the ease of flight restrictions and added safety measures come in.
