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IATA: Facemasks Among Top Three Measures That Create “A Feeling of Safety”

The International Air Transport Association says most flyers want mandatory face mask usage on aircraft because it creates “a feeling of safety” when flying during the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional data was provided to FlyerTalk from their most recent survey of passengers from 11 nations.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is offering clarity to their most recent study, saying airlines’ mandatory face mask policies are one of the top three measures which would create “A feeling of safety” for flyers traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trade group provided new information to FlyerTalk, further reflecting the opinions of flyers from 11 countries.

IATA Argues Flyers Want Face Coverings on Flights

In presentation slides sent to FlyerTalk from their June survey, the IATA notes the majority of flyers would feel better if airlines compelled the use of face coverings. From the expanded data, IATA shows 44 percent of those polled said the mandatory passenger facial coverings in airports and planes would make them feel “somewhat safer,” while 37 percent said they would feel “a lot safer.” The total of those who would feel safer is 81 percent, one percentage point higher than the April 2020 survey.

IATA Survey Shows Flyers Would Feel Safer with Face Masks

Image courtesy: IATA

Additionally, the majority of those asked would also feel at least “somewhat safer” if flight crew members also wore face coverings through the airport and on the flight. Of those asked, 45 percent said they would feel “somewhat safer,” while 36 percent said they would feel “a lot safer.”

The top safety measures flyers want include seeing sanitization being performed throughout the airport, seeing sanitization being performed throughout the plane, and having hand sanitizer readily available on the aircraft. The latest CarTrawler/IdeaWorks report shows while every major airline is performing spray and wipe disinfecting aboard aircraft, only 18 of the top 25 leading carriers are offering hand sanitizer to flyers. Excluding low-cost carriers Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, the top North American airlines reportedly have hand sanitizer on board and available by request.

Passenger Screening, Face Masks and Social Distancing Top Three Leading Measures

Among those passengers asked about the top three safety measures they wanted to see on aircraft, three options stood out the highest: Passenger screening for COVID-19 symptoms at airports, mandatory face mask usage aboard aircraft, and airlines enforcing social distancing mandates. Other top measures include a COVID-19 immunity certification, temperature testing during boarding, and crew face masks. At the bottom of the list were health declarations and regular airport sanitization.

An IATA slide reflecting the top three measures that would create a feeling of safety. Slide courtesy: IATA

Slide courtesy: IATA

Of the leading options, only mandatory face mask usage is being currently enforced on aircraft. Passenger screening is being held on a case-by-case basis among airlines, and social distancing on aircraft is split between carriers. American Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines are all booking flights to capacity. A New York Times article suggests American prevented flyers from moving seats because of upgrade fees, but a spokesperson for the airline called it an “error.” Meanwhile, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is reportedly considering a bill mandating airlines block middle seats.

Other flyers allege the mandatory face mask rule is being enforced selectively, based on the airline and the flight. In a report from The Indianapolis Star, recent flyers say some people were either wearing face coverings incorrectly, or only selectively wearing them in flight.

16 Comments
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Dubai Stu July 16, 2020

Conspicuously absent from their list is “social distancing” and I can’t help but think that the industry’s own interest gets in the way. i want to see an empty seat between unconected parties and reclining abilities on seats temporarily disabled and/or an emptry row between fliers.

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azmojo July 15, 2020

nycityny: That is debatable. Mask leakage, *if* a person is wearing a mask correctly is such a problem it almost completely counteracts any benefit from a mask. Most masks create leakage jets to the sides and up and down. Penetration of cloths masks can be as high as 97%. Until you take the time to study the subject extensively, please refrain from spreading your version of "logic."

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nycityny July 14, 2020

Kumar2013: Here's what I say to your nonsense. Coronavirus is expelled through the nose and mouth of those with the virus. Coronavirus is absorbed through the nose and mouth of others in the area. Putting a mask in front of the nose and mouth of the carrier as well as others around them greatly reduces the chance of transmission. If that doesn't make sense to someone it's because their mind is closed to hearing such logic.

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oh912flyer July 13, 2020

A friend of mine recently took a flight. The closest person to him wasn't wearing a mask due to a medical condition. Rather than complain and whine, my friend simply put on a second mask... I was kind of surprised he could still breathe but he said no problems. Which suggests maybe they're not that effective in the first place.

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sdsearch July 12, 2020

nycityny: If there are cases of transmission on planes, I wouldn't be surprised if they're among the people cramming to get off the plane in a very slow moving line. While you're seated, if you have your air vent open, the air is refreshed every few minutes with outside air is doing a good job of protecting you to a greater degree than in most enclosed spaces, especially if there's no one seated immediately next to you. But on most planes, there are only vents at seats, not aimed at flyers standing in line to get off of the plane. So it seems to me that worst place on the plane for air circulation is the center aisle, but that's only an issue when deplaning (since boarding is staggered at the gate, but deplaning cannot be easily controlled by the airline). I was on a plane yesterday, and I was amazed at how much of crammed aisle there was at the start of deplaning. It seemed no different than pre-Covid-19. I just sat at my window seat with the vent open until the crowd had fizzled.