The "New Normal" in aviation will not be funny....

[Nino]

EASA, the European aviation safety body just released the new set of rules for flying in Europe during Covid-19 times.

https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/EASA-ECDC_COVID-19_Operational guidelines for management of passengers_final.pdf

I read some of the highlights of the 28 pages of rules and it is absolute horror as would be expected.

My simpathy goes out to the staff and crew that have to enforce these rules ...

I guess I will be staying home for a while and use my car ....

Happy to have flown enough not to miss it now.

Quote

In the context of these measures, an increase in cases of unruly or disruptive passengers should be expected, either prior to departure or in-flight. This may be due to passengers not wishing to sit next to each other or accusing each other of not following the rules. There is a strong potential for conflict if it is not managed properly. In the worst-case,panic could become quite a serious threat to flight safety –for example if there are significant displacements within the cabin. To address this, operators are invited to consider the raised likelihood of these factors within their procedures and training

Quote

Passengers should be regularly instructed via visual and audio messaging,as well as other appropriate means,to adhere to the preventive measures in place at various levels in the airport and on-board the aircraft, and give proper consideration to the full suite of preventive measures.They should also be advised of the consequences of not adhering to such measures

Quote

 

Aeroplane operators should reduce on-board service to the minimum necessary to ensure comfort and wellbeing standards for passengers and limit the contact between crew members and passengers giving proper consideration to the duration of the flight. Among these measures the following should be considered:

No duty free or other non-essential product sales on board.

Reduced food and drink service

Preference for pre-packaged and sealed food and drink products, such as canned drinks

Wherever possible, payment procedures involving touch or contact, such as cash payments, should be avoided to mitigate transmission between crew members and passengers.

Passengers should be reminded to remain seated with their seatbelt on as much as possible.

Extra attention needs to be devoted to the prevention and treatment of unruly passengers in the context of the pressures imposed by the pandemic. This should consider multi-layered actions starting with passenger information and preparation about the measures in place, and giving attention to the procedures and crew actions necessary mitigate this risk.

 

 

[Wookie]

How do you think first class will be affected? I'm talking international travel, not domestic. But maybe both. First domestic in Europe usually means coach seats with a empty seat in the middle, but with better service. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Just ban crying kids and leave it at that, lol

[Nino]

1 hour ago, Wookie said:

How do you think first class will be affected? I'm talking international travel, not domestic. But maybe both. First domestic in Europe usually means coach seats with a empty seat in the middle, but with better service. 

Don't think that will change much, but the whole experience will be the same and I would not expect "better service" - just some more space.

The idea of leaving a middle seat empty in other classes is history and not financially viable.

[99call]

2 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Just ban crying kids and leave it at that, lol

Yup, people with small kids, should all be forced to be on a plane with one another,  one big plane of screaming hell. 

[99call]

Personally I think they should do 'cryosleep' like in Aliens.   To be honest I would settle for being fitted with a catheter, pre flight, then being professionally chloroformed by an air hostess.   I can never sleep......this would be a godsend. 

[Wookie]

47 minutes ago, nino said:

Don't think that will change much, but the whole experience will be the same and I would not expect "better service" - just some more space.

The idea of leaving a middle seat empty in other classes is history and not financially viable.

So you are saying that first class will retain its current level of service but coach will become even worse than it already was pre-COVID? 

[asudevil08]

11 minutes ago, 99call said:

Yup, people with small kids, should all be forced to be on a plane with one another,  one big plane of screaming hell. 

Well that escalated quickly 

[teamrandr]

I hate flying to begin with.  I doubt I will book a flight for quite some time.