This story is published from a report by the research institute SimpliFlying.
This report details over 70 different areas in the passenger journey, that are expected to either change or to be introduced from scratch, to restore confidence in flying after COVID-19.
1 – Online Check-In
Travel, at least before coronavirus, has required touch at all stages of the process.
SimpliFlying has revealed that post-pandemic travel, in addition to the standard online check-in, may require a digital immunity passport to confirm the presence of COVID-19 antibodies, although the WHO has noted that there has been no confirmation of immunity as of yet.
This immunity passport is largely similar to the Yellow Fever card, used when travelling to humid tropical regions during summer.
Much of the check-in process may be done online to limit physical contact with airline staff.
2 – Airport Curbside
Before the age of coronavirus, passengers would usually arrive 1-3 hours prior to the departure of their flight.
A sanitised travel process might require passengers to arrive at least 4 hours prior to an international departure, according to SimpliFlying‘s report
If this is the case, no passenger would be admitted to an international departures area of an airport unless an immunity passport is presented. Alternatively, passengers would have to pass through a thermal scanner or similar health check.
3 – Check-In
Previously, passengers may never have had to visit a check-in counter – rather just walk straight through to security.
Post-pandemic check-in could require passengers to complete an almost instantaneous health scan, to assess any symptoms. SimpliFlying has likened it to a Biomed CT Scan.
Check-in staff will be behind protective barriers, similar to those used in hospital triages or pharmacies. Negative air pressure may also be used.
Passengers will be assigned seats directly on-site to optimise physical distancing on board. Furthermore, passengers will likely be given masks and gloves for use onboard; according to SimpliFlying.
4 – Security
SimpliFlying has revealed that ‘hygiene-enhanced’ security screening will take place at least 2 hours prior to an international departure.
Each carry-on bag could be repidly UV-sterilised, or fog-sterelised, before being X-ray scanned.
Passengers will be required to keep masks and gloves on, to prevent the spread of infection amongst passengers.
5 – Boarding
The boarding experience is set to be completely overhauled. Passengers may be required to arrive at the boarding gate at least 1 hour prior to an overseas departure.
SimpliFlying anticipates an ample presence of touchless vending machines, that will encourage the hygienic purchase of meals to be consumed on the ground or in the air.
Passengers will only be able to board when individually notified via mobile phone; the jetbridge will also comply with social-distancing requirements.
Of note, any passenger who returns an abnormal health assessment from check-in will be denied boarding.
6 – In-flight
The inflight experience will undoubtedly be altered in some way. Cabin crew may wear protective gear and all passengers will be checked, to ensure masks and gloves are worn.
Passengers will likely disinfect their seats with alcohol wipes provided, the cabin will be disinfected by spraying a mist through air vents and hand sanitiser may be provided.
There may be janitor onboard to provide regular cleaning, according to SimpliFlying.
Multi-course meal service in premium cabins may be changed. Instead, passengers in all classes could be served a pre-packaged, sealed meal to avoid any potential for contamination.
Seatback pockets will remain free of inflight literature and personal device use will be strongly encouraged.
7 – Arrival at Destination
Upon arrival, passengers will likely be thermally-screened and checked for any health abnormalities.
Aircraft may require a deep clean after every flight, not just every night.
Travel post-coronavirus may indeed follow similar paths to what existed prior to the pandemic, however, there will undoubtedly be changes in the way passengers travel globally.
Article Source: SimpliFlying, a world-leading global aviation research institute.
These people are idiots. The WHO has said having had the virus is still no confirmation you cannot get it again and may infact indicate you are contagious. Immunity passports are a bad idea. For people like me who have stayed isolated and safe, this would mean we cannot travel! Yet its people like me that need to travel for business.
Travel should be limited to those that are not contagious and people should wear masks and gloves while in close proximity to others.
Truth is, flying changed forever after 9/11 and it will change again after this pandemic is under control. We will adjust to it, or not fly. I am a senior and all our plans to fly abroad this year are toast. But, if it seems safe in a year, we will be flying again.
Sounds very extreme. If all these requirements were put into action then certainly the airline industry would remain in major decline and many would subsequently go out of business coupled of course with those that had already folded. Current statistics still show that 26 per 1 million have died from from Covid-19 and it’s a certainty that the death rate is far less because the figures are based on known cases, the actual number could up to 20 times higher, highly unlikely that the unknown deaths would be anywhere near that increase.
If true, these changes will permanently hobble travel (at least, international travel). You’re talking about an incredibly inconvenient, invasive, and time consuming process – simply to get from point A to point B. Rather than being something aspirational, such changes make the travel experience into a miserable odyssey that is to be avoided whenever possible.
If there’s no better way than that suggested in the article, travel as we know it may be doomed.
This is ridiculous. (Every Would-be pundit wants to be the first to predict the future and this one is on steroids.). The industry is going to do what it can to get people back in the air, not put major obstacles in the way and enormous costs on themselves. The pandemic will run its course and things will return to something close to normality.
Will we see a lot of airline holidays to island resorts where the island is quarantined off from the rest of it’s respective country?
Getting on and off the plane is only the first step, how about the many other nightmares we would have to negotiate and overcome i.e. entering Hotels, Restaurants and public places. I think for the majority of us we would see these obstacles as a bridge too far, thus travel will change dramatically, for all of us, until a vaccine is developed that may takes years to invent.
On another sad note it looks like airbus are moving towards bankruptcy.
Sounds logical and i can see it happening in Asia or maybe Europe. Definitely not in the US. No airline or government will spend the money to do it, it won’t make people any more willing to fly and passengers won’t pay the costs for the ticket. More likely air travel will return to the old days of being harder and more expensive to do with fewer carriers, and people will travel even more domestically. Which is a real shame
While I like the safety factor it is a bit over board and will take away from the joy of flying and instead become just an absolute terrified experience Feels like going through illegal immigration
If this is the future I might as well forget about the trip I was planning.
Too expensive as well. But on the upside, it will be good for the environment.
Fewer planes in the air.
That will be both low standard and annoying service !