SkyTeam, Oneworld, and Star Alliance have jointly released a message in which they explain the measures their airlines are adopting to ensure the well-being of their customers during air travel. The three global airline alliances represent more than fifty percent of the world’s air traffic.
The video called, Dear Travelers, offers a preview of what customers may expect to see and experience on their next journeys in the months to come.
“Safety has always been at the core of our member airlines’ operations,” Oneworld CEO Rob Gurney said. “With the additional health and well-being measures that have been implemented by our member airlines and across the industry, customers can embark on their travel with confidence.”
Some of the measures being addressed include:
- A safe airport environment with physical distancing in all required areas
- Increased and intensified sanitation with a focus on high-touch areas, both on the ground and in the aircraft cabin
- Hospital-grade high-efficiency air filters are onboard modern aircraft. Known as HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air), these filters extract 99.99% of particles and airborne contaminants
- A requirement or recommendation for passengers and airline staff to wear face masks both at the airport and onboard, consistent with applicable public health guidelines
“The safety and well-being of passengers and employees have always been our members’ number one priority,” Kristin Colvile, SkyTeam’s CEO, said. “Passengers can be assured that when they travel, many actions have been taken to enhance their personal safety in the airport and the air.”
Each of the three global alliances had announced initiatives that would focus on a multi-layered approach to safe operations, meeting some of the measures recommended by health experts.
“We are facing the biggest challenge in the history of our industry, but we are equally determined to overcome it through measures that restore confidence in air travel so that we can connect people and cultures across the world once again,” Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Star Alliance, said.
