One of the sectors that has had the most impacts due to the pandemic of coronavirus COVID-19 is aeronautical, between cancellations, decreases in reservations and border closures are causing a significant economic impact, so airlines such as JetBlue undertake further measures.
The U.S. low cost company became the first firm in the industry to announce that all passengers will have to wear a mask or head covers on flights.
Changes in their policy
According to JetBlue Airways, from May 4, all passengers must wear a mask that protects the nose and mouth for the duration of the flight, as well as during check-in, boarding and disembarkation.
According to various press reports in the United States, the news is made public right after the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) issued a recommendation to increase protections for its workers and to “end all pleasure trips until the virus is contained.”
“We are also asking our customers to follow these CDC guidelines at the airport. (…) Wearing a mask for the face is not about protecting yourself (the user); it’s about protecting those around you,” said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer of JetBlue, cited by NBC News.
The company detailed that they will be reminded by email and at the airport to use the cover covers and that this will also apply to minor passengers, although they detailed that children who for some reason are unable are exempt.
This is an interesting move as it challenges the consumer directly and is a little different from what other airlines have implemented. For example, American Airlines said it will require this protection from May 1, but for its crews as the surcharge, although it also indicated that passengers will be offered personal protective equipment.
Some of these reactions are largely to the demands put forward by the Association of Flight Attendants that, according to the medium, have requested protective measures and equipment for employees and passengers.
“Since the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China, hostesses have been at the forefront of the growing global pandemic,” says a letter sent by the association to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.
Impact to the aeronautical sector
As we mentioned at the beginning of this note, the economic impact on this industry has been considerable. In this regard, it is worth noting data disclosed in Statita, which reveals that only during the week of April 20, 2020, the number of scheduled flights worldwide decreased by 66 percent compared to the week of April 22, 2019.
In fact, the report warns that in some countries, the year-on-year decline in passenger flight numbers reached more than 90 percent, even in Italy reaching 98 percent.
Against this background, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates suggest that the impact on the global aviation industry will be reflected in a loss of approximately $130 billion in airline ticket sales. (https://www.merca20.com/la-primera-aerolinea-que-exigira-a-sus-pasajeros-el-uso-de-cubrebocas/?fbclid=IwAR2NMQ2xdPxMzcvbF94_yuc5j2Dof2W9gUxml8FneaUZ-i377ezdvr8obAI)
