2020 was a rough year for the global aviation industry. The pandemic almost put a complete halt to air travel. As 2021 gets underway, most people are wondering when they will feel safe about air travel. Is it time for people to brace themselves for uncertainties and to adapt to a new normal? The truth is that while some passengers have chosen to get back to their pre-pandemic travel habits, others are still choosing to wait and see.
The aviation industry will need to work extra hard to reassure passengers and restore their confidence in flying. For some individuals, air travel is a necessity that they cannot avoid. Civil Aviation Organizations are working closely with major hub airports and health authorities to implement safe travel procedures. Having common standards across the globe is one way to ensure that air travel regains its footing.
Making Long-Term Changes
The changes and health requirements in place currently should continue and become the new normal. Experts anticipate that the processing facilities will change for the long-term. If there is one thing that people have learned from the pandemic, it is that people can never take health protection for granted. Everyone is aware of how easy it is for a disease to move across the world within weeks. The changes cannot be stop-gap measures to deal with this pandemic. New guidelines need to be developed and adhered to by all.
Embracing Social Distancing
As governments continue to issue guidelines on social distancing, airlines have had to make some changes. Even after airlines started flying to most routes, many passengers are still staying away. Most of them are unsure about the safety measures that the airlines have implemented. Constant assurance from the airlines has failed to convince some skeptics that they were safe to fly. Passengers have taken matters into their own hands on numerous cases to ensure everyone respects the safety measures.
Adjusting to the New Normal
As terms like social distancing, lockdown, and quarantine became part of the daily vocabulary in 2020, wearing face masks became the new normal. There are many public places that people cannot go without wearing a mask. Wearing masks in airplanes is now part of the norm. As the months have progressed, the term “new normal” has come to be hated by many. As the social and financial implications of banning travel have become clear, it has become evident that people need to make adjustments.
Making Air Travel Safer
Social distancing on aircraft is helping to reassure nervous passengers, but many people are still staying away. As the entire airline industry continues to feel the pinch, they continue to implement policies to make air travel safer. Clear policies such as posting “Middle Seats Open” messages may have convinced some passengers, but the fact is that policies vary from airline to airline. While one airline may reassure a passenger, the same passenger can have a different experience in the next flight.
Many countries still have travel restrictions in place, and this makes international travel difficult. There are also many individuals facing financial difficulties due to the pandemic. While it is possible to access cash conveniently through loans like title cash, many people are still finding it difficult to travel. People want to know when it will be safe to resume international travel.