- Title: Temperature checks, masks the new normal for air travel, says Dubai airport CEO
- Date: 14th May 2020
- Summary: DUBAI, UAE (MAY 13, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUBAI AIRPORTS CEO, PAUL GRIFFITHS, SAYING: "We are going to have to take whatever measures that are necessary to protect both the travelling public and our staff. And until we get a more satisfactory, effective and timely method of dealing with that to eliminate social distancing, we are clearly going to have to adopt those [temperature screening and face masks]. But the impact on both the confidence and the ability to travel will be very significant indeed." DUBAI, UAE (RECENT - APRIL 27, 2020) (REUTERS) SCREENS AT CHECK IN DESKS VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WITH THEIR BAGS WALKING IN DXB AIRPORT TERMINAL 3 SOCIAL DISTANCING SIGN DUBAI, UAE (MAY 13, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUBAI AIRPORTS CEO, PAUL GRIFFITHS, SAYING: "You cannot keep people that far apart in an airport that's designed for an amount of space for a passenger that's below that 2 metre bubble. So we will not be able operate anything close to our original design capacity if we have to maintain that distancing, which is why social distancing, I think, is a short term measure." DUBAI, UAE (RECENT - APRIL 27, 2020) (REUTERS) CLOSED TERMINAL 3 DUTY FREE SHOPS PASSENGERS SITTING AT GATE PASSENGERS WAITING TO BOARD FLIGHT AT GATE GATE SIGN DUBAI, UAE (MAY 13, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUBAI AIRPORTS CEO, PAUL GRIFFITHS, SAYING: "It costs pretty much the same to operate an aeroplane whether it's completely full or a third full. And so to provide the same level of revenue to cover the cost of operating air fares would have to be something like three times what they are today."
- Embargoed: 28th May 2020 04:02
- Keywords: COVID-19 DXB Dubai airport UAE United Arab Emirates air travel coronavirus
- Location: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- City: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- Country: UAE
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA002CDWKMRR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Temperature screening and face masks could become common sights at airports to mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus but physical distancing could make flying more expensive, CEO of Dubai Airports Paul Griffiths said on Wednesday (May 13).
Around the world, governments, airports and airlines are considering temporary safety measures to restart air travel, including mandatory temperature checks, wearing face masks and keeping passengers apart.
Dubai International, one of the world's busiest airports, suspended passenger services in late March as the United Arab Emirates took drastic measures to contain the virus.
The UAE has since allowed some repatriation flights and eased other restrictions in the Gulf state, though it is not clear when normal flights will restart.
Physical distancing could also increase airfares if airlines were restricted to selling fewer tickets in order to keep some seats empty, Griffiths said.
But until there was a vaccine, a treatment or a reliable, quick method to detect the virus, measures that reduce the risk of contagion would need to be enforced, Griffiths said.
It is unclear when global travel will recover from the coronavirus pandemic which has shattered demand and will partially depend on countries lifting their lockdowns.
Regaining public confidence in the safety of air travel is seen by the aviation industry as a significant challenge.
Countries who have the spread of the virus under control and agree to reopen their borders to each other are likely to drive air travel demand over the near term, Griffiths said, but it is impossible to say when travel could return pre-pandemic levels.
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