U.S. airlines step up safety measures in preparation for recovery

[turbinetree]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS MAY 20, 2020 / 8:18 AM / UPDATED 33 MINUTES AGO

Reuters) - U.S. carriers JetBlue Airways Corp and United Airlines Holdings Inc announced fresh safety measures on Wednesday aimed at restoring confidence in travel as several executives pointed to signs domestic demand is improving.

U.S. states are starting to reopen and airlines expect an increase in domestic travel over the extended holiday weekend for Memorial Day on May 25.

While data shows only a small fraction of recent flights were more than 70% full, there may soon be full or near-full planes, said Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. airlines.

The group launched a public awareness campaign called “Fly Healthy. Fly Smart” to reassure travelers on the industry’s safety measures after a number of social media photos depicted packed flights.

Major airlines have mandated face coverings for travelers and are taking a layered approach to safety.

Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Additional reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Stephen Coates and Bernadette Baum

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-airlines-safety/u-s-airlines-step-up-safety-measures-in-preparation-for-recovery-idUSKBN22W1R1

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You can have all the safety things in place, and as a former aircraft technician / working in a engineering department, we were trained to see the object in our visual format to replicate seeing it in our mind..................like looking in on a engine for example to identify the part we were removing and replacing and then doing a engine run................the virus is a unseen object, our human minds cannot wrap our head around that fact because we cannot see it, we know it is there but we really don't physically see it or can touch it................this is not going to end well............there is no vaccine..............the business model says that you have to have those seats filled paying for that revenue mile against the business costs of operating..................

[hibbing]

1. "recovery"

I am not getting on a plane, not next week, not next month, not next year. MAGA's won't wear a mask in a grocery store, you think they will take being made to wear a mask on a plane? These will be the next viral videos.

Peace

[Initech]

2. No way in hell am I getting on a plane until this pandemic is over.

And I'm someone who loves to travel and go places. But as long as this virus is a threat, and as long as we have the MAGAs refusing to cooperate, I'm staying home for the time being.

[iluvtennis]

3. It's the recirculated air on planes that scares me in these times. They say it's a mixture of fresh

and recirculated and that the recirculated runs through HEPA filters. But, I know of too many times I've flown and someone on the plane is sick and I ended up sick cuz I'm this magnet for germs.

I'll admit, I'm scared to fly at this time. Until a vaccine is available, don't think I'll be flying anytime soon.

[Chainfire]

4. Their main preparation

will be to lawyer up, fighting for plausible deniability. After all, just because 60 out of 75 clients contracted the disease four days after a crowded flight doesn't mean it happened here....

[PSPS]

5. It's kind of sad, in a way, to see some airlines squirm through this with a "happy face"

I suppose I'd do the same if I were running them too. I'm sure they know that the era of recreational and non-essential air travel is over for the foreseeable future. BA is giving up Gatwick. Airline press releases show their "rebound" consists of moving from 95% decline to 90% decline. Airplane manufacturers predict travel loads will remain what it was 60 years ago for at least another decade. Boeing has no new orders at all last month and a flood of cancellations. The comments in this thread reflect the general public's opinion of the safety concern, and it won't be mollified especially in this political climate.

[Zorro]

6. I flew cross-country last weekend

Airport terminals were relatively empty, and no waiting getting through security.

The plane was about 50% full for the first leg of the flight (TPA-DFW), with only 3 people per row in coach.

The plane on the second leg was packed (DFW-SAN), with few empty seats.

Everyone was wearing masks. This was American Airlines.

Not looking forward to flying again, because it's obvious the airlines will be cancelling flights to stuff more passengers into the remaining flights to reduce their costs.

[James48]

7. I'm actually looking forward to flying-

I think if everybody is wearing a mask, I’m much more comfortable now than I was a month ago. I’m thinking I may do some recreational flying this summer.

I’ll try, however, to avoid full flights- mostly because I hate full flights anyway.

Yeh- I’m ok with getting back in the air.

[Tommymac]

8. We have little choice

Bought tickets last October for a European vacation this week. Didn't happen - obviously.

The Airline cancelled our flight in April - we had no choice. We got a credit...but...we have to use it within one year of the date WE PURCHASED the ticket. So we will be out $2000 if we don't fly somewhere by Oct 15.

Yes. my butthole hurts. It is wrong that we will not have a year from the date of the cancellation due to a freakin' Global Pandemic, next spring, when a vaccine may be around, or at least drugs that can help you fight the symptoms...

Aside from the fact that my wife and I planned to spend our golden years flying all over the globe, indeed planned our lives that way, the airlines have really pissed me off to the point I never want to fly again.

BTW I am more fearful of sitting on a city bus or trolley then I am of sitting in a plane. I have done research and the air is NOT recirculated, it is pumped from the engines, filtered by virus class screens and refreshed every 2-4 minutes from the outside - and exhausted out the rear of the fusalage. The air blowing from the overhead nozzles is straight from the engines. Window seats are the best as t hat is where the air blows into the cabin. And we can dress safely. We have read the the biggest time to be afraid is standing up when you land. We'll stay in our seats until the crowd surges away.