RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Little by little, airlines are resuming their flight schedules as they witness a rebound in demand. To make travel safe, the three major Brazilian companies have changed the distribution of snacks and drinks, encouraged digital check-in, and stepped up aircraft cleaning.
Azul says passenger traffic in July increased 40.7 percent from June. The capacity offered grew 33.3 percent in the month. However, over the same period in 2019, there is still a significant difference: demand in July was 77.6 percent lower than a year ago and capacity fell 75.7 percent. The airline will reach 407 flights in September. Before the pandemic, it was approximately 900 per day.
In Gol, demand grew 114 percent, and supply grew 117 percent in July compared to June. Compared to last year, there was an 80.2 and 78.5 percent drop, respectively. In August, Gol is serving 90 percent of its domestic destinations.
LATAM is gradually resuming its flights. In Brazil, before the pandemic, the company operated an average of 750 daily flights. In April and May 2020, it operated five percent of its pre-pandemic capacity, with an average of 35 daily flights in the country. In July, its operation averaged 110 daily flights. For the months of August and September, the plan is to reach 50 percent of the network and reach 244 daily flights by the end of September.
The main safety measures implemented by airlines are listed below:
Masks
The wearing of masks is one of the most basic safety measures. “The obligation to wear masks has become a matter of collective safety rather than an individual decision,” Gol says. “The measure provides greater safety on board and reduces the chances of contagion even from asymptomatic individuals,” Azul says.
Other protections
In addition to masks, the airline companies are distributing gloves to air and ground personnel and distributing hand sanitizer stations to everyone. Azul also measures the temperature of its crew before each shift.
Digital check-in
To avoid queues at the check-in desk, companies are directing passengers to perform the procedure through the App or the Internet. At Gol, check-in is cleared 48 hours in advance. At Azul, once check-in is completed through the App, passengers do not need to handle papers or pass through the check-in desks.
LATAM is using videoconferencing technology at some airports (Congonhas, Santos Dumont, and Vitória, for the time being) to serve passengers with no need for physical contact.
Organized boarding and landing
No more crowding in line for boarding, or standing up and waiting in the aisle after landing. The airlines are organizing these procedures and arranging the entry and exit of aircraft in rows.
Change of air
The aircraft are equipped with an HEPA air filter system, which captures 99.9 percent of microscopic particles, such as bacteria and viruses, by renewing the air in the aircraft every three minutes.
On-board service
The companies chose to distribute snacks and drinks at the end of the flight, on landing, to ensure the wearing of masks throughout the flight. The drinks come in closed plastic containers or cans, which do not require handling by the crew, and all items served are sanitized before boarding the plane.
Blankets and headphones
Azul maintained the distribution of blankets and pillows on international flights, considering the legal requirements. However, due to the new hygiene measures implemented, the delivery of headphones has been suspended and Azul advises each customer to use their own.
Restrooms
LATAM has blocked the aircraft’s front restroom for the crew’s exclusive use in order to minimize contact with passengers.
Reinforced sanitization
Additional cleaning and sanitation measures were also implemented during ground stops and overnight stays. Cleaning is performed with increased care on seats and armchairs, seat belts, trays, light and call switches, seat pockets, floor, and walls. Restrooms and cabin luggage are also cleaned with each flight.
During the aircraft’s deep and thorough cleaning, which is done at night, the carpets, crew workplaces such as the cockpit and galley, and the washbasins are thoroughly and fully disinfected.
The night-time cleaning process has been optimized with the use of a hospital-grade disinfectant for the service galleys and all cabin internal use areas, including the pilots’.
Source: Exame