Will there be more space in economy class when we return to our aircraft? This is probably the most positive consequence that the coronavirus pandemic will have for passengers in what could be the future configuration of air transport. According to Alexandre de Juniacthe Managing Director of IATAthe International Air Transport Association, thecentral wheelchair immobilisation in each row would be a way of making air travel more efficient. compatible with health conditions This will be discussed with governments at a series of coordinated meetings around the world. Such a measure will be discussed with governments at a series of coordinated meetings around the world, according to IATA's CEO in an interview with Reuters.
Many airlines are working on the conditions of carriage of passengers in the post-COVID-19 era. In an interview with Reuters, the CEO of the low-cost airline Wizz AirJoszef Varadi, indicated that he was going to fly his aircraft at only two-thirds of its capacity seats. That's 120 seats instead of 180. Such a measure should make it possible to respect the social distances imposed - one metre in France, but two metres in Switzerland, for example. But, according to the same CEO, it would also be a factor of imbalance of finance, putting pressure on airline profitability long after the quarantine imposed in most countries has been lifted.
Alexandre de Juniac is also affected by this measure. IATA now estimates that air transport losses will reach 314 billionFor the time being, the outlook for a rapid resumption of traffic is rather bleak. Indeed, even if there is a glimpse of a gradual "deconfinement", restrictions on international travel and the blocking of borders by many countries are likely to persist. This is the case for the Schengen area, China and South Korea, all countries that generate huge volumes of passengers. There is therefore considerable uncertainty as to the pace of any recovery.
The immobilisation of the middle seat, a likely condition for the resumption of air travel with the masks must be wornthe fitting of aircraft with hydro-alcoholic gels and the meticulous disinfection of aircraft, therefore entails a major financial risk for airlines severely weakened by the pandemic. As Alexandre de Juniac explains, the densification of the economy class has been a "key factor in the success of the airlines. a key factor in airline profitability" which generally achieve a seat occupancy rate in excess of 75 %. A load factor fixed at a maximum of 66% should therefore result in... fare increases and thus attenuate - or at best avoid - a possible fare war supposed to revive the machine. According to IATA's Director General, the airlines will have to juggle two imperatives: the need to win back the favour of passengers while at the same time regaining financial equilibrium with this new situation.
The likely new maximum load factor standard of 66% is likely to have a dramatic effect on air transport within Europe, as it will undermine the low-cost model, which until now has been based on denser cabins in return for affordable fares.
Analysts also believe that in a post-COVID-19 world, the train should attract new fans, and no longer only on routes of up to three hours. There is a risk that air travel will only be favoured in cases of absolute necessity on short-haul routes. We could therefore see a significant reduction in the number of flights between European cities, with a likely increase in air fares as a result...
