New air travel rules you need to know about post-Covid-19

Dubai - Focus on cleanliness and personal protection in a bid to increase consumer confidence.

As some countries ease restrictions on lockdown, air travel in the US seems to be the next big question. Post Covid-19, air travel is set to undergo changes with the focus being on cleanliness and personal protection in a bid to increase consumer confidence.
According to report sin CNN Travel, airlines are rolling out new policies aimed at protecting passengers and crew from coronavirus transmission. And this is evident as US carriers - Jet Blue, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines announced that passengers would be required to wear masks beginning May 4.
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According to Delta statement, "Face coverings will be required starting in the check-in lobby and across Delta touchpoints including Delta Sky Clubs, boarding gate areas, jet bridges and on board the aircraft for the duration of the flight, except during meal service."
The updates come just days after TSA marked its highest number of screened passengers at 128,875 in the US since April 3. The TSA figure is only about 5 per cent of the 2.5 million people screened on the equivalent day in 2019.
American Airlines will also start handing out sanitizing wipes and gels and face masks to customers in early May. "American will not assign 50 per cent of main cabin middle seats or seats near flight attendant jump seats on every flight, and will only use those middle seats when necessary," the carrier's temporary policy reads.
Besides making face masks mandatory when maintaining social distancing is difficult, airlines have also modified in-flight service to minimize touchpoints and has moved primarily to pre-packaged foods and sealed beverages.
While Air Canada has adjusted its boarding procedures wherein passengers can choose to take a later flight at no additional cost in order to maintain adequate spacing onboard.
Korean Air is providing cabin crew with protective clothing, including goggles, masks and gloves. "Protective gowns are being provided on medium- and long-haul inbound flights as overseas Covid-19 cases continue to increase significantly," Korean Air says in outlining its protective policies.
Similarly, European Lufthansa Group which begins operations May 4, said flight attendants will also be required to wear masks. Lufthansa added that leaving middle seats vacant will no longer be necessary as everyone will be wearing protective face masks.