The UK Department for Transport has published its own
guidance for health and safety measures in aviation during the Covid-19
pandemic, but it is still advising against all but essential travel.
The guidance, produced by the government’s International Aviation
Taskforce, sets out measures airlines and airports should put in place to
protect staff and passengers while informing travellers how to follow social
distancing guidelines during their journey.
It tells airlines to carry out enhanced cleaning and enforce
social distancing where possible, or carry out risk assessments and require
face coverings for passengers and staff where distancing is not possible,
including in the airport. It also advises the use of online check-in methods
that encourage passengers not to travel if they have any coronavirus symptoms
or have been in contact with anyone with symptoms in the last 14 days, and it
says carriers should promote the use of checked bags rather than hand luggage –
though this advice has been criticised by Ryanair, which says cabin bags are
safer because they are typically only handled by the passenger rather than by
multiple baggage handlers.
For passengers, the government suggests regular hand washing
and avoiding moving around the aircraft cabin as much as possible.
The advice is devoid of any guidance on when the 14-day
quarantine for incoming passengers might be lifted or when the government would
change its recommendation to avoid all non-essential travel.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today’s guidance is
a positive next step towards ensuring a safer and more sustainable aviation
sector. The government’s advice currently remains to avoid all non-essential
travel, but today we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a framework is in
place for the aviation industry to bounce back when it is safe for restrictions
on travel to be lifted.”
The UK aviation industry has been hit hard by the
coronavirus pandemic, with British Airways, Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic, Easyjet
and Heathrow airport all announcing plans to reduce staffing levels as a result. The
International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently estimated that global
airlines will lose US$84.3 billion in 2020, making it the worst year for the
sector on record.
BA, Easyjet and Ryanair have officially launched a joint
legal challenge against the UK’s new quarantine measures today, saying the
restrictions are “flawed” and “will have a devastating effect on British
tourism and the wider economy and destroy thousands of jobs”. The airlines are
asking for a judicial review of the decision to implement the measures and
argue that there was no consultation with the industry and no scientific
evidence has been published to back up the move.