IATA Disagrees on Implementing Social Distancing on Planes

Following a piecemeal introduction around the world, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said it supports the wearing of face coverings for passengers and masks for crew while on board aircraft.

The body said the move was a critical part of a layered approach to biosecurity to be implemented temporarily when people return to traveling by air.

However, IATA added it does not support mandating social distancing measures that would leave ‘middle seats’ empty. Evidence suggests that the risk of transmission on board aircraft is low, the trade body said.

Mask-wearing by passengers and crew will reduce the already low risk, while avoiding the dramatic cost increases to air travel that onboard social distancing measures would bring.

In addition to face coverings, IATA recommends a number of temporary biosecurity measures, including the temperature screening of passengers, boarding and deplaning processes that reduce contact with other passengers or crew and limiting movement within the cabin during flight.

IATA said the more frequent and deeper cabin cleaning might also reduce risks. However, the economic impact of leaving middle seats empty outweighed any benefits, de Juniac added.

Calls for social distancing measures on aircraft would fundamentally shift the economics of aviation by slashing the maximum load factor to 62 percent. That is well below the average industry breakeven load factor of 77 percent.

With fewer seats to sell, unit costs would rise sharply. Compared to 2019, air fares would need to go up dramatically -  between 33 percent and 58 percent depending on the region - just to break even.