The UN’s Internaional Civil Aviation Organization has published a set of health recommendations for post-pandemic airline travel, hoping to get countries and airlines on the same page to avoid confusion and contamination.
The protocols have heavy-duty support both from international agencies like ICAO and the World Health Organization and from airline industry organizations including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which took part in the international task force that drew up the recommendations.
The changes, possibly the biggest changes in air travel since the security rules after 9/11, are intended to be a framework for passenger and worker safety both on planes and in airports. Among the major proposals:
- Travelers would arrive at airports with a health certificate, and have their temperature checked on arrival
- Increased use of online check-in to minimize contact in lines and at counters; kiosks and other high-touch surfaces would get enhanced cleaning
- Face masks would be required in terminal and in planes, with one-metre distance maintained.
- Minimum movement within planes; no lining up at toilets (passengers would wait in their seats for their turn)
- Pre-packaged food and regular disinfection of planes; temperature check again on arrival.
ICAO points out that the measures are not obligatory, but might be made so by different countries or carriers; they are intended to provide a framework for a return to flying; the task force chair says the broad consensus gives the report “an authority that will make them a global reference for the first time on this issue since the start of the COVID-19 crisis.”
