The Skies Will Never Be The Same Again!
Travel has remained a key element of everyone's lives for the longest time now. Be it for leisure or work, individuals all over the world depend on air travel. The world is more connected now than ever due to the existence of air travel. The ability to hop on a plane to attend a meeting in a different city or a wedding turned into an everyday affair. Over the years multiple airlines have introduced various strategies to make air travel more comfortable and affordable to the common man.
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, air travel came to a standstill. Countries around the world were quick to close down their international borders to prevent the excessive spread of the virus. As the pandemic worsened across the globe, many airlines took a huge hit like other businesses. Along with which the tourism and travel industry also plummeted. During the last 8 months, air travel was primarily used for the transport of medicines and medical equipment to battle the pandemic on a global scale.
With life returning to normalcy, people around the world have slowly but steadily resumed travel by air for personal and professional reasons. However, there have been drastic changes adapted keeping the safety and comfort of passengers in mind.
Here is the list of permanent changes in the air travel industry because of the pandemic:
1. Combating public fear and implementing safety precautions
The most prominent challenge right now is the fear that people have developed towards air travel. Multiple strategies have been put in place to ensure maximum safety. Face masks, gloves, face shields, temperature checks, and sanitizers have become an integral part of travel. Travelers and airlines staff alike value the importance of the same.
To avoid confusion and ensure that all safety protocols are carried out effectively, passengers are now required to arrive at the airport early to complete all safety checks. Web check-in which has always remained optional has now become the preferred medium for both passengers and airline companies to reduce the risk of contact between employees and customers at check-in counters. Implementation of social distancing measures both on the ground and on-air has put increased stress on staff members.
2. Layoffs in the travel industry and their effects
This period saw massive layoffs by airline companies. Employees that were retained faced severe pay cuts as well. The increasing frequency of flights in recent times has built unreal pressure on the existing employees. Cabin crew and pilots are forced to tackle excessive workload to make up for the reduction in employee strength. This often results in back to back flights which result in prolonged flying hours and decreased holidays. This has taken a toll on both their physical and mental health alike.
To understand the current scenario better, I indulged in conversation with a cabin crew member working with Indigo airlines. In her opinion, as the lockdown lifted initially, there were fewer passengers on board. Since food and beverage service was temporarily halted to restrict contact, shifts were easier to handle.
With an increased inflow of passengers and all services on board resuming, it has led to increased work on all shifts. Due to the lay-off of many employees, her team and she are now faced with more frequent flights regularly which makes their schedule erratic and tiring. This also poses an increased risk of them contracting the virus.
However, there are always two sides to a coin. She believes that the pandemic has forced airlines to be more conscious of the cleanliness and hygiene standards maintained on board. Sanitization of flights is more regular. The quality and standard of food have been elevated to match the safety standards. The quality of cabin air has seen a stark improvement with the usage of HEPA filters as per international protocols issued.
3. Drastic decrease in daily travelers
When it comes to Business travel involving domestic or international trips by employees or organizations, India had emerged as the third-largest Business Travel Market in APAC after China and Japan. Before the pandemic hit, hundreds of corporate employees traveled on a day to basis both within the country and internationally. With companies shifting to remote and work from home models since the pandemic, there has been a sharp dip in the frequency of corporate travelers.
Most companies have adapted to the medium of online meetings via platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc., This proves to be a fatal blow to those airline companies that have most of their fleet plying on routes within the country. In addition to this, most customers prefer booking direct flights instead of opting for connecting flights with layovers as they are concerned about their safety.
4. Desperate attempt to boost profits
As per the protocols released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines were advised to leave alternative seats empty and fly at half capacity to ensure social distancing is maintained onboard among passengers. With increased bookings, many airlines have now chosen to not follow this rule anymore. Instead, PPE kits are made compulsory for those passengers occupying the middle seat on small budget airlines.
Just as most businesses were forced to adapt in unimaginable ways to stay afloat amidst the pandemic, the airline industry was also forced to adapt and reinvent air travel. From training on-ground staff, airport officials, and the cabin crew, multiple protocols and changes have been put in place to make the skies safe once again. It is safe to assume that the face of air travel will never be the same once again. Passengers and airline employees are bound to be more cautious about their safety. Post the pandemic as well, the skies are never going to be the same again!
Opinions and Perspectives
The article really highlights how the pandemic has transformed the entire industry.
Will be interesting to see which of these changes become permanent fixtures of air travel.
The mental health aspect of frequent flying during these times isn't discussed enough.
The focus on passenger safety is great, but it's made everything so much more complicated.
Makes you wonder what other changes are coming to the airline industry.
The reduced capacity flights were nice while they lasted. More space for everyone.
I miss the simplicity of pre-pandemic travel, but I appreciate the increased safety measures.
The impact on airline employees' work-life balance sounds pretty severe.
Interesting that some of these pandemic-induced changes might actually improve air travel.
The increased arrival time requirements are annoying but necessary I suppose.
I'm curious about how these changes will affect budget airlines in the long term.
Those PPE kits for middle seat passengers seem like a poor substitute for proper distancing.
The shift away from connecting flights is probably helping with on-time performance.
It's remarkable how resilient the airline industry has been through all this.
The increased use of technology in airports has really modernized the whole experience.
I wonder if airlines will ever recover their pre-pandemic passenger numbers.
Interesting how some of these forced changes ended up improving the overall flying experience.
The new normal in air travel is probably here to stay, even after the pandemic ends.
Remember when we used to complain about basic flight inconveniences? Now it all seems so trivial.
The article's point about corporate travel is spot on. My company has completely switched to virtual meetings.
I actually appreciate the more thorough cleaning between flights. Makes me feel safer.
Flying feels more organized now, but it's lost some of its excitement and spontaneity.
It's surprising how quickly passengers adapted to all these new protocols.
The increased focus on air quality in planes is something that should have happened years ago.
Wonder if we'll ever go back to the casual attitude we had about flying before all this.
Web check-in becoming mandatory has really reduced those horrible check-in counter queues.
The mental toll on aviation workers isn't discussed enough. They're really on the front lines.
The reduction in connecting flights is probably good for the environment, but bad for smaller airports.
I've noticed flight attendants seem more stressed lately. Must be tough dealing with all these new responsibilities.
The article doesn't mention how these changes have affected ticket prices. They seem much higher now.
I think airlines should maintain these higher hygiene standards even after the pandemic ends.
The new cleaning protocols between flights must be affecting turnaround times significantly.
My company has completely eliminated international business travel. Everything's virtual now and honestly, it works fine.
Those HEPA filters should have been standard long before the pandemic. Better late than never I suppose.
The tourism industry recovery seems to be happening faster than expected, at least in some regions.
Wonder how smaller airlines are coping with all these changes. The costs must be astronomical.
The shift to web check-in has really streamlined the whole process. This should have happened years ago.
I've noticed that passengers seem more considerate of each other now. Maybe that's one positive change?
The pressure on remaining airline staff must be immense. They're doing the work of multiple people now.
It's interesting how some changes that were meant to be temporary have become permanent features of air travel.
The article's title is spot on. The skies really will never be the same again, but maybe that's not entirely bad.
I actually feel safer flying now than I did before the pandemic, with all these new protocols in place.
The improved cleaning standards should have been there all along, if we're being honest.
Working from home has definitely changed how we think about business travel. Do we really need to fly across the country for a two-hour meeting?
The statistics about reduced business travel are staggering. This must be hitting airlines where it really hurts.
I think we'll see more automation in airports going forward. Less human contact seems to be the future.
Anyone else noticed how the boarding process has actually become more organized with these new procedures?
The IATA guidelines seem reasonable, but it's disappointing that airlines aren't following them strictly anymore.
I miss the old days when traveling was simpler. All these new procedures make it feel so clinical.
The fear factor is real. I still feel anxious about flying even with all these safety measures in place.
It's amazing how quickly we adapted to all these new protocols. Remember when wearing masks on planes seemed strange?
The article makes a good point about people avoiding connecting flights now. I definitely prefer direct flights even if they cost more.
Not sure if I agree about virtual meetings being as effective as in-person ones. Some business relationships really need that personal touch.
The layoffs in the industry are heartbreaking. These are skilled workers who spent years training for their roles.
We can't ignore the environmental benefits of reduced air travel. Maybe this forced change will help us be more conscious about necessary versus unnecessary flights.
Having traveled recently, I noticed the food service has improved significantly. They're definitely taking hygiene more seriously now.
The PPE kits for middle seat passengers seem like a band-aid solution. They should maintain proper distancing instead.
Interesting that India was the third-largest business travel market in APAC. I had no idea it was that significant.
I worry about the mental health of airline staff. The increased workload and constant exposure risk must be incredibly stressful.
Business travel will never return to pre-pandemic levels. Companies have realized how much money they can save with virtual meetings.
The impact on the tourism industry is huge. Many of my friends in the sector lost their jobs and had to switch careers entirely.
The article doesn't mention how ticket prices have been affected. I've noticed they're much more expensive now.
I actually prefer the new web check-in system. It's faster and more convenient than waiting in those long queues.
My recent flight experience was completely different from pre-pandemic times. The safety measures are thorough, but they make everything so much slower.
Does anyone know if the increased cleaning protocols are actually being maintained? Or was it just for show during the height of the pandemic?
The interview with the Indigo cabin crew member was particularly insightful. Really shows the human impact of these changes.
As someone who travels frequently for business, I can confirm the massive shift to virtual meetings. Haven't been on a plane for work in over a year now.
I'm not sure I agree with airlines abandoning the empty middle seat policy. Seems like they're prioritizing profits over passenger safety.
Reading about the HEPA filters made me feel better about flying again. At least there's some silver lining with improved air quality standards.
The part about cabin crew working longer hours is concerning. I wonder how sustainable this is in the long term for their wellbeing.
I found it fascinating how quickly airlines had to adapt to the new reality. The shift from optional web check-in to making it the preferred method really shows how technology became crucial during the pandemic.