Is flying during a pandemic safe, or does it create a virus transmission highway?
In short: Airplanes may be safer than many indoor environments, but the journey to your seat is a different story. Airport security checkpoints are not designed for social distancing, creating a cycle of transmission between passengers and staff. Experts suggest that limiting travel is the most effective way to stay safe.
While airplanes themselves are often considered safer than many other indoor spaces, the broader air travel system presents significant health challenges. Airports are not built to maintain the six-foot social distancing recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Security checkpoints, in particular, act as a breeding ground for transmission, as passengers often stand in close proximity for extended periods. This environment creates a destructive cycle of exposure between Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners and travelers, potentially facilitating the spread of the virus across the country via the airline industry's hub-and-spoke network.
Screening for COVID-19 remains difficult due to the virus's long incubation period and the ability of asymptomatic individuals to remain contagious. Experts like Sheldon H. Jacobson argue that temperature checks are largely performative. Instead, they suggest that limiting air travel to essential trips and restricting access to PreCheck-qualified passengers could help reduce crowding. Between March 17 and March 26, 2020, 63 TSA officers tested positive for the virus, with nearly half of those cases occurring at New York City-area airports. This data underscores the risks faced by personnel who interact with travelers from high-risk urban hubs.
For those who must travel, experts emphasize that individual precautions are vital. Using high-quality, properly fitted face masks and utilizing online check-in can help minimize exposure. However, the consensus among many public health professionals remains cautious. Annelies Wilder-Smith of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests that because small gatherings are increasingly driving the pandemic, travelers should consider waiting until the following year to celebrate holidays. Ultimately, as Jacobson notes, if security and health standards cannot be maintained, the most prudent recommendation is to cease non-essential air travel entirely to suppress transmission.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Is it Safe to Fly During the Coronavirus Pandemic? I NOVA I PBS
- Also: Is it safe to fly during the coronavirus pandemic?
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