How COVID-19 Changed Air Travel For Good
Written by guest author - Melissa Hull of Aviation Charters
The COVID-19 pandemic, one of the worst public health crises the modern world has to face, is also wreaking havoc on the global economy.
Countless businesses have closed down, millions of people lost their sources of income, and the manufacturing, services, and transportation industries have taken quite a pounding.
The aviation industry is one of the hardest-hit by the pandemic, with governments all over the world promptly grounding aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) pegs the financial loss to the industry at around $370 billion.
At the height of the pandemic, many turned to private jet charter companies to serve their travel needs.
Private Jet Charter
Today, with many countries opening up a year after the pandemic was declared, airlines have since resumed operations.
However, the fact remains that the coronavirus is still out there, and anyone flying commercial will still be at high risk of contracting COVID-19 during their flight, compelling airports and airlines to institute measures to lower the risk of infection.
Commercial air travel may have resumed, but it has changed a lot since the pandemic began, and these changes will probably be for good:
Everyone Must Wear A Mask
It is now policy for airlines to require passengers and crew alike to wear face masks during flights.
In the United States, President Joe Biden has issued an Executive Order requiring all domestic and international travelers to wear masks at airports and on commercial aircraft.
Everyone Must Wear A Mask
It is now policy for airlines to require passengers and crew alike to wear face masks during flights.
In the United States, President Joe Biden has issued an Executive Order requiring all domestic and international travelers to wear masks at airports and on commercial aircraft.
Changes To Screening Process
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) still performs pat-downs, but this time, all officers will be wearing masks and gloves, and will change gloves after each pat-down.
TSA agents will no longer handle boarding passes. Passengers will have to place their electronic or paper boarding passes on the code readers themselves.
Visit the TSA website to know more about its COVID-19-related protocols.
Blocked Middle Seats
In the early days of the pandemic, airlines decided to block all middle seats in an effort to implement physical distancing during flights, which effectively limited their onboard capacity.
More Prepackaged Snacks And Drinks
Most airlines suspended in-flight food and beverage services last year.
Today, many carriers have since resumed offering complimentary snacks and drinks, but all served in prepackaged and factory-sealed containers.
Some airlines have also started selling snacks, food, and beverages again.
More Flexible Ticket Change Policies
Ticket change policies may vary from airline to airline, but they have mostly become more flexible amid the pandemic.
For example, some airlines decided to waive change fees for flight cancellations. Some also offer flight vouchers valid for as long as two years from your original booking date.
Cleaner and Better-Sanitized Airplanes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines for airlines and airline crew that cover aircraft cleaning. Suffice it to say that aircraft cleaning has never been this rigorous, especially on international flights.
Air Travel Policies Will Be Changing Constantly
While experts already understand more about the coronavirus since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, there’s still much to learn about it.
Like everyone else, airlines are on the lookout for COVID-19-related updates from the authorities and will adjust their policies accordingly.
Alternative Air Travel Options
Now that commercial flights have resumed and international travel has been given the go-signal, we can expect airports and airplanes to become increasingly crowded with each passing day.
The resumption of commercial air travel will undoubtedly contribute to the revival of the economy. Unfortunately, with the coronavirus still pretty much around us, anyone who boards a commercial flight will still share the cabin with a lot of people.
Even with physical distancing measures like keeping the middle seats empty, commercial airliners will still be too crowded for comfort for many travelers.
All things considered, it appears that the safest way to travel by air in the time of COVID-19 is through a private jet charter.
Why Chartered Flights Can Be Safer Than Commercial
Complete control over passenger list—The passenger or organization chartering a private flight has full control over who will be on it. No sitting with random strangers, and the number of people on board will be so much lower than on commercial flights.
Private aircraft, private terminals—Airports may have been virtual ghost towns over the past few months, but the resumption of commercial flights will make them crowded again. Those who fly via private jet charter won’t be passing through congested gates to board their plane. They would be using less-crowded smaller executive terminals with private lounges for that.
No security screenings on most flights—Passengers on most private flights don’t have to go through TSA pat-downs, metal detectors, or body scanners. They even have the option of driving straight up to their private jet or getting picked up on the tarmac, bypassing the terminal—and lowering the risk of COVID-19 infection—altogether. However, private charter passengers who fly into Arlington's Ronald Reagan National Airport and certain other airports still have to go through security screening.
Access to smaller airports—Unlike commercial airliners, private jets can land on smaller and more remote airports, helping passengers cut their travel times and reduce their risk of contracting the coronavirus.
Fewer people handling bags—Some private charters make it clear to their clients that their bags should only be handled by their pilots, not the ground crew.
Longer, nonstop routes—The range of some modern private jets can be up to 7,500 nautical miles, and they are capable of traveling that distance nonstop. There would be no need for refueling stops. The trip will be faster, which, in turn, will lower passengers’ risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
COVID-19 is definitely changing air travel as we know it. Vaccines may already be available, but some of the travel policies COVID-19 gave birth to will likely stay in place, at least until we have beaten COVID-19 for good.
About the Author
Melissa Hull is the Content Marketing Strategist for Aviation Charters, a West Trenton, New Jersey-based private aviation company that provides on-demand aircraft charter, aircraft management, and aircraft acquisition services. Aside from her passion for writing, she loves to travel and read espionage books.
