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Flyers Not Sold on Mandatory Face Mask Policies on Aircraft

A flyer waits at an airport wearing a face mask.

A flyer waits at an airport wearing a face mask.

The latest data from an IATA public opinion study suggests flyer’s biggest fears are coming in contact with someone infected by the novel Coronavirus, and using lavatories during flights. The study also shows flyers aren’t sold on one of the primary ways to stop COVID-19: wearing a face covering.

The majority of flyers are concerned about crowed buses, trains, and aircraft, but do not necessarily believe in using a face mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The new data comes from a public opinion study conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), surveying flyers in 11 countries over the first week of June 2020.

Flyers Want Screening and Social Distancing Measures, Not Masks

Respondents in the multi-national review noted they were willing to take several measures when it comes to their personal safety. Of those asked, 43 percent said they would go through temperature checks, 42 percent said they would voluntarily wear a face mask while flying, and 39 percent said they would go through a COVID-19 test before their flight.

However, respondents do not agree that they should be compelled to wear a face mask while flying. When asked about measures that would make flyers feel safer on aircraft, only one-third said they concurred with mandatory face mask policies. Among survey group, 37 percent COVID-19 screenings at airports would help them feel safer, while 33 percent said social distancing measures on aircraft would help.

Of their top concerns, 59 percent of travelers say sitting in a crowded bus or train on the way to the aircraft made them feel uneasy, while 42 percent were worried about standing in lines at check-in, security checkpoints, or border entry. On aircraft themselves, 65 percent said their biggest worry was sitting next to someone infected with the novel Coronavirus.

One of the top concerns of all flyers is using shared restroom facilities, regardless of where they are. Using lavatories was the second biggest concern of flyers aboard the aircraft, while using restrooms on the ground was the third-biggest worry.

Cabin air quality is still a major emotional problem for flyers, even though they acknowledge that it is relatively safe. In the response group, 57 percent say they believe air quality is dangerous, while 55 percent said they understood that it met hospital-grade standards. The psychological aspect of breathing cabin air is one acknowledged by even aviation executives, including the leader of Boeing’s “Travel Confident Initiative.”

IATA Addresses Problems With “Getting Out the Message”

In separate comments to the media, IATA chief executive and director general Alexandre de Juniac acknowledged that his organization needs to do better in “getting out the message” on two key areas: Aircraft cabin air and the use of face coverings.

“The aircraft cabin is one of the most controlled environments that people could experience,” de Juniac said. “First, risk is reduced by screening our symptomatic travelers. Then air is exchanged with fresh air from outside every two or three minutes on most aircraft. That’s 20 to 30 times more frequently than most office buildings. And HEPA filters take out viruses—including the coronavirus—with each filtration.”

In regards to face masks, de Juniac noted that while it does change the travel experience, it can be incredibly helpful in ensuring passenger safety. When used as a broader strategy, the trade organization executive noted mandatory face masks can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and bring travel back to a sense of normal.

“Masks or face coverings address the difficulty of social distancing in public spaces, including while on board aircraft,” said de Juniac. “The mask requirement is the general advice of governments for areas where social distancing is not possible, like public transport.”

Noting his recent travels, de Juniac said that he used a mask on his last flight. While it changed the experience, he also noted it was a temporary action, telling reporters: “If that is the price for the freedom to travel, count me in!”

The aviation leader also called on governments to re-open borders, warning that travelers may not fly if there are quarantine or exclusion measures. Before the Independence Day holiday, the European Council asked member states to not open borders to American flyers. The group is set to revisit their recommendations during the week of July 13, 2020.

51 Comments
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sethb July 24, 2020

Why can't the US do what so many other countries have done to reduce the spread of coronavirus? Yes, Europe mostly doesn't require masks NOW, after lowering the rate of infection to a tiny fraction of the US's.

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c1ue July 16, 2020

I'm not 100% sold on the effectiveness of masks in preventing all COVID-19 transmission, but masks are a cheap and relatively non-intrusive countermeasure and should be worn. I've worn masks myself, pre-COVID-19, when I was forced to travel with a case of regular flu - in order to protect the other passengers and the flight crew, so why not do it as a preventative measure for now?

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rundmc July 16, 2020

Provided without comment: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.10.1.34 http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.552.1109&rep=rep1&type=pdf https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372

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Superjeff July 12, 2020

I just flew DFW-DEN-MSO (Missoula, Montana) on United, both segments on A319's, and then MSO-SLC-DFW on Delta, on a Skywest E175 connecting to a new A220, all segments in First Class. United was fuller, and I had a seatmate on both segments, while Delta had me in the "A" side of First (1-2 configuration, so I was alone), and the seat next to me on the second flight was blocked. Other than that, the experience was similar, with an announcement that the plane had been sanitzed, and being handed a packet of purel on the Delta flights and sanitary wipes on United. Also, a plastic bag with a small bottle of water, a Stroopwaffel (United) and pretzels, and, on Delta, a Biscoff. The Delta flight from MSO to SLC (1:36) had no service whatsoever; the flight from SLC to DFW (2:49) had a snack box (like the ones typically sold in Economy), and all flights had alcohol on offer in First. Frankly, I'm thinking there are alternatives to this, and the airlines are using the Covid situation to cut costs, and we'll likely never see food service again on domestic flights, but I certainly appreciate the situation and the fact that the airlines have to save costs wherever they can at this point.

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LonghornDXB July 12, 2020

In flights where every passenger has to give a nasal swab test and test negative before flying, such as in some EK flights, masks may not make a huge difference.