Continued from page 40 However, there is


disagreement about when pre- departure tests should occur. Iata advocates tests up to


72 hours before flying. But an aviation source said: “If I was the government, I would be worried if you take a test 72 hours in advance. What is to stop you picking up the virus two days later? The closer you do it to departure the better.” Bilateral agreements with


other governments will be needed for pre-departure tests to work. The source said: “We need to get to a common standard. The work of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on this is pivotal and the UK government is working closely with ICAO.” ICAO published a manual


on Testing and Cross-border Risk Management last week. The government also signed


off on some financial support for airports in England – up to £8 million per airport to cover business rates. Heathrow dismissed the


amount, but the source said: “The government’s priority is to focus on opening up travel. “Airlines can take on more


debt. We have to get people flying – the government is right to focus on that and testing is the first part of that. “It may be airlines will have


to say ‘We need more support’ – ideally, access to loans. “If the industry can get


through to June or July, potentially with a vaccine in place, there will be pent-up demand. But there is a lot of uncertainty. Up to April-May we’re not expecting huge volumes of traffic. Confidence is


still very low.” i Get Social, page 25


‘Airports are in distress and will need to raise fees’


Airports are suffering “extreme financial distress” and their funding will be permanently changed by the Covid crisis, the head of airports body ACI Europe has warned. Director general Olivier


Jankovec said a recovery would be “hampered by significant demand and supply pressures” as airports “face renewed competitive


38 26 NOVEMBER 2020


Almost two in five passengers are concerned about


infection on an aircraft, according to a US survey


Inflight infection is ‘top concern of passengers’


Ian Taylor


Two in five air passengers remain concerned about catching Covid-19 on a flight despite assurance that flying is safe, according to a US poll of travellers. The poll found concern about


Covid infection while flying outweighed all travel-related concerns other than fear of infection at an airport. The survey by US data analytics


and consumer research firm JD Power was conducted among more than 50,000 US air travellers in


September and October. It found almost one in four (24%) had no concerns about Covid while travelling, double the proportion stating “great concern”. However, 37% were concerned


about infection on an aircraft compared with 13% in a taxi, shared ride or train to the airport, 6% at their destination and 2% in a hotel. The survey found 31% concerned at different points in the airport. In a report on the findings,


JD Power noted: “The ‘average’ passenger travelling during the


pandemic is likely not the same as the ‘average’ traveller in a normal period. “What the worry-free areas have


in common [is they] do not require prolonged interaction with strangers. “Previous research has discovered


travellers who feel they can control their personal space are more confident about travelling during this pandemic. The ready supply of masks and the ability to distance from fellow passengers add to this confidence.” When respondents were asked


what safety measures they consider most important, half (48%) said a requirement for all passengers and crew to wear face masks. This was 16 times more popular than contactless check-in and boarding (3%) or contactless payment in shops (3%). Mask wearing has become a


divisive issue in the US, with many supporters of outgoing President Trump refusing to wear face masks. JD Power surveyed 50,000-plus


travellers using Wi-Fi at a major US airport in the five weeks to October 15.


pressures” and “ultra-low-cost airlines are set to emerge as winners” from the crisis. He told the association’s


conference: “For too long, airlines have seen airports as infrastructure that should be free or as a piggy bank they can squeeze for change. Almost all Europe’s airports offer rebates and incentives to airlines under normal conditions [and] 70% have added additional Covid-19 rebates and incentives. They are pricing below costs. Revenues from commercial activities, in particular retail, are also challenged.” Jankovec told the conference:


Airport charges ‘will need to be remodelled’


“Our airport economic model has been dependent upon continued growth in air traffic. We can no longer assume that will be the case.” He said airport charges “will


need to be remodelled with an emphasis on the user pays”.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURES: Shutterstock


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