How will Coronavirus forever change airlines and the way we fly? From air fares to destinations to cabin layouts, things may look very different once we start travelling again.
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At The Airport
Expect longer than normal processing times at the airport. You will see sneeze guards set up at key transaction points, including check-in counters and gate podiums.
Thermal scanners and COVID-19 tests may be needed to ensure passengers are healthy enough to fly.
Airport Check-in 
Airport Check-in
Airlines are reducing touch points by temporarily shutting down self-service kiosks in most locations; customers will be encouraged to use mobile check-in. Some airport are already adapting face recognition scanners. All of these measures are aimed at reducing physical touch points.
Lounges
Expect Social distancing to be in place regarding seating arrangements, packaged snacks and wrapped food.
Boarding
Boarding will be from back to front by rows, boarding fewer passengers at one time; this is to allow more distance during the boarding process. It will space out customers to minimise crowding in the gate area and on the jet bridge.
Seating
The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly caused behavioural changes, when sharing public communal spaces.
Airlines are limiting seat selection in all cabins, so customers will not be able to select seats next to each other or the middle seats.
Future passengers will be placing even greater value than ever before on personal space, from a health and safety standpoint. Airlines will need to adapt their cabins, in order to tempt customers back and reassure them that their health is being protected whilst on board. Reduced passenger loads will free-up opportunities to adapt existing cabins, to address this new normal in the short to medium term.
Some new concepts of seating with minimum touch interaction are currently on the drawing board.
The Isolate kit from FactoryDesign below transforms the middle seat into a reassuring screen, to provide maximum personal space and separation for adjacent passengers. The whole feature is supported by the armrests and is securely belted into position.
In-Flight
Flight attendants will hand out sanitising wipes, for passenger to wipe down the seat handle or the tray table.
Food and drinks will be served in pre-packed bags to avoid touch. There may no longer be a trolley service for food/drinks.
United are currently serving a snackbox in domestic First Class, instead of by tray.
United Domestic First Class Snack Box 
United Domestic First Class Snack Box
Arrival
Passengers arriving may have to go thru sanitising tunnels, thermal scanners and COVID-19 tests, before being allowed to clear immigration and customs; checked bags may also have to be sanitised. Expect delays when arriving into your destination on International travel.
Airfares
Dollar Flight Club analysis shows that we may see airfares decreasing by 35% through 2021, as there is more supply than demand. However long term prices will rise by over 27%, due to demand outstripping supply, as airlines will be slower in adding capacity and are retiring large airplanes such as the B747 and the A380.
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Have you encountered something different in your recent travels? Please let me know what you think the future of air travel will be like?
Hi Sam,
During my career I have had the fortune to travel 1st class for my business travel. I still have a copy of a first class menu of Swissair from April 1998 from Zurich non stop to Hong Kong and then on to Manila (on MD11). I would like to send you a scanned copy of this menu for you and your viewers. You will be shocked, when you compare this what is now offered today after the outbreak of covid-19. At that time you could get extra helpings of Persian Sevruga or Beluga caviar, where an air hostess was bringing the big tin to your seat, where you could serve yourself as much as you wanted with a big spoon. This menu is certainly demonstrating what was 1st class flying 20 years ago, where the flying time from Zurich to Hong Kong is still the same today. So if you would like to get a copy of this 1st class menu of 1998, please send me an e-mail address, where I can attach a scanned copy in pdf or jpg format.
Thanks for sharing the info, you can email to editor@samchui.com
Curious on how business class and first class will be post covid? Is it worth it now? I usually fly min business class and travel international usually 4-5+ times per year. I’m a bit nervous now and am curious if all that I will be paying extra for is a lay flat seat?
As an older flyer, I myself will not let these small inconveniences keep me from flying. I mostly fly international and if that is what I need to do vacation in countries of my choice then that is what I have to do. To me a vacation is all of the vacation even the journey. I will not stop flying.
Brilliant article however I’d be really interested in your thoughts on how ‘Special Assistance’ Will work post CoVid19? Wheelchair users who need full hands on help? With laws in place for equality will this be achieved???
Well, I will be very disappointed if all these actions would take place. Many of them are not necessary and definitely not goung to prevent a covid 19 infection. For instance, the virus is not transmitted through food. So wrapping up dishes is unnecessary. Also the dividing shields between seats – I mean, we still travel in the same space. Besides, cancelling the middle seat will not creat a 6 feet space between passengers. I think that with time, a herd immunization will occur. Health check before flying is reasonable. The other measures are rediculous and will not be favored by passengers.
As for the long haul flights, it’s time for aerospace engineers to get busy to minimize the effects of sonic booms, in order to bring back the supersonic flights, so passengers can spend as little time onboard as possible.
Social distancing & various seating arrangement gimmicks are overrated. The solution is herd-immunity via mass vaccination. Before the availability of vaccine, the keys are not touching your eyes & noes & mouth for as long as possible, washing your hands as frequently as possible, & wear your face mask (& even your eye goggle).
For the future, touch-less techs are the keys. So, all you IT hardware & software engineers, it’s time to get busy.
Airlines can save money by getting rid of all those IFE systems. All passengers shall bring their own iPad/tablets with their own headphones to entertain themselves.
With the exception of bottle waters, airlines can also save money by getting rid of all inflight meals/snacks for short to medium range flights. All passenger for such flights shall stuff their own bellies beforehand.
Furthermore, if you want to avoid the worst places onboard for infection by touching, avoid going to lavatories by wearing your “Depend”, at least for short to medium range flights.
Yes there is gonna be a change but it’s a good change I’m sure people Wil get used to dis
Thanks Sam for this really interesting article!
I just think that people will just not bother to step on a plane in the future unless they really have to. I guess if you have to attend a funeral for instance you have no choice but otherwise people will shun flying. They can use other forms of transport if possible or just use video conferencing software such as ZOOM.
I don’t think I will fly again, although I still have a ticket and living in Australia, still waiting for the borders open up. We have to see what will happen. But thanks Sam for the information it was very interesting.
I see a ‘health card’ of some sort being required to travel in the future, especially for international travel.
Hi Sam,
It was already very difficult traveling compared to before 9/11 but at least it was mainly security before actually getting on the flight (as well as all of the nuisance charges, downgraded foodservice, and crammed seating).
Airlines were making big profits and not treating passengers very well.
I think that if all of the precautions that you mentioned are required that many people will feel that it is not enjoyable and they won’t travel by airplane unless it is really necessary.
It seems like a lot of trouble for a weekend or a one week vacation.
Thanks for all of the good information!!!
Younger travelers will get use to the “NEW NORMAL” regarding air travel, but I wonder about people 50 and over who have been flying for the past 30 years. This whole COVID19 crisis is going to change forever the way Americans live.