Lockdown air travel safety dilemma

BALANCING the risk of keeping planes in the air and passengers safe at the same time, has become a challenge for the aviation industry as we head into the third wave of Covid-19.

On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa moved the country into lockdown level 3 after daily infections rose to a point of concern.

His national address followed a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council, the President’s Coordinating Council and Cabinet.

New regulations were introduced, including curfew hours being 10pm to 4am, the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption limited to between Monday and Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and gatherings restricted to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

Additionally, the World Health Organization said Africa was experiencing a full-blown third wave of Covid-19 cases, driven by new variants of the virus and slow vaccination rates.

However, unlike previous lockdown measures, flights remained open for both international and provincial travel.

Refentse Shinners, spokesperson for the Airports Company South Africa, said they upheld extensive physical measures, standard operating procedures, and staff training necessary for level 3, and the different levels the country had previously experienced since the onset of the pandemic.

“We have also received Airports Council International Health Accreditation, confirming we followed international safety standards and protocols. What has been a priority, and remains one, is creating a safe and clean environment for our passengers,” said Shinners.

These measures have included physical distancing at the terminal entrances, compulsory mask-wearing from entry of an airport, throughout the flight, and at the destination airport.

There are sanitising stations throughout the airports and Covid-19 monitors throughout terminal buildings to ensure the airport adheres to regulations.

Shinners said the check-in and security checkpoint processes remained much the same.

“All the regulations remain in effect after boarding the aircraft, mid-flight, and during the disembarking of the aircraft,” Shinners said.

But videos and anecdotes that have circulated show that these rules are not always followed during flights, with some calling for flights to be cancelled altogether.

Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer for Flysafair, said air travel had been conflated with Covid-19 in an inaccurate manner.

“People spread Covid-19, not aircraft. With the correct protocols in place, it’s unlikely to get infected on a flight. Our cabin crew have had very low infection rates. Movement of infected persons can cause the spread of the virus, but that’s a risk we face nationally.

“Worldwide air travel has not been halted in the processes to protect populations against the second and third waves and there appears to have been no ill effect,” he said.

Kirby believed banning air travel would have a dire economic effect that could not be afforded.

“The most direct hit would be to the air travel industry, but air travel is more than just a stand-alone industry – rather it’s an important economic enabler. The link between air access and economic performance is well documented. Our government is in the unenviable position of having to balance the interests of our people, specifically protecting their health and economic wellbeing,” he said.

Brian Kitchin, Comair executive manager of sales and marketing, said their on-board protocols had not changed under level 3.

“We still require sanitising, mask-wearing and social distancing at all times, as well as the decontamination of aircraft to ensure in-flight safety,” he said.

Kitchin said the airline industry was a fickle business before the pandemic, so a total shutdown could be disastrous.

“Regular, efficient air connectivity is essential, both so people can get to their destinations, and to move cargo. Before the pandemic, the industry was a difficult sector with razor-thin margins. Another shutdown like the one we previously experienced in earlier lockdown alert levels would see more airlines permanently go out of business, with considerable implications for the recovery of the country’s economy,” he said.

A few months ago most global destinations snubbed the country, but since March, many have reopened their borders.

According to Skyscanner's live interactive map, citizens could now travel to 44 destinations enforcing low restrictions compared to the nine countries in March.

Around 29 countries have moderate restrictions, compared to 95 in March. These countries include Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Belarus, and Ireland.

Citizens can only travel to them if they meet the respective entry regulations such as taking a Covid-19 test or quarantine upon either arrival or return.

Countries that are closed to citizens were the United Arab Emirates, Madagascar, Libya, most of Europe, Asia as well as North and South America.