The aviation industry has experienced a huge threat in the wake of the covid 19 pandemic, which has never occurred to them. For the longest time, many airlines have grounded most of their fleet due to the closure of country borders to reduce the spread of the deadly virus. The abrupt collapse of air travel demand has brought the aviation industry to a standstill, with every stakeholder facing their own set of challenges.
The good news is, countries are recovering from the pandemic’s impacts, and some of the travel restrictions have been loosened thanks to governments’ efforts in flattening the covid 19 curve. Inevitably, there have been different recovery stages with regulatory measures imposed on airports worldwide for as long as the virus remains with us. But the fact is, the aviation industry will never be the same again, specifically airport operations. Although many uncertainties are surrounding the industry because of the worldwide government’s quarantine rules, the industry is taking one step at a time. Airlines have implemented new norms of operations, and the industry is turning to technology to devise new ways of dealing with what is to come.
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Resuming Operations with New Measures
According to news sources such as Karl Scranz, airlines are resuming operations but with new measures. But the industry expects uneven recovery progress across the world because of the threat of the second wave of covid 19. However, many countries have permitted domestic flights to resume as they observe strict measures to curb the virus’s spread. For instance, requiring travelers to have covid 19 certificates and be quarantined for 14days as soon as they arrive at their destinations. Passengers are now required to constantly wear masks and frequently sanitize during their journey, and social distancing has become the norm in airports.
For international air travel to fully get back on its feet, there must be worldwide confidence that the virus is under control and it is safe to travel. For the time being, recovery is expected to occur in phases until an effective solution is found, such as the promises of an effective covid 19 vaccine.
Imposing Specific Rules for International Travelers
Another way for the aviation industry to recover from the pandemic’s effects is to impose specific rules for international travelers. For instance, requiring covid 19 test certificates before any traveler boards an airline. It is inevitable for every airline worldwide and airports to adjust significantly to manage changes during this challenging season.
Health Screenings
Health screenings at the airport are of utmost importance during this season since no one seems to know when the pandemic will subside. However, technological solutions such as electrical health declarations, testing kits, and thermal scanners have to be further evaluated to ensure their effectiveness. That is as a precautionary measure to prevent constraining passenger flow when introduced.
Touchless Passenger Processing
In efforts to prevent the spread of pathogens, airlines will have to introduce touchless passenger processing systems. Adopting hands-free passenger processing such as facial recognition and self-processing solutions can help keep the virus under control as air travel resumes.
The Final Thoughts
The covid 19 crisis and impact on the aviation industry has left a mark on airline operations. The industry needs to develop a proactive approach to deal with every new set of challenges from now forward.