In the aircraft of the future, citizens will fly in masks, but there will be no empty seats between passengers

The International Association of Air Transport (IAT) supports the obligatory wearing of masks on board as a temporary measure of coronavirus protection after the restoration of the air traffic, Interfax reports with reference on the IATA statement.

At the same time, the association opposed the "social distance measures", which suggest empty chairs between passengers.

"The available data indicate that the risk of infection on board the aircraft is small. Wearing masks with passengers and the crew will reduce the already low risk, without provoking a sharp increase in the cost of air travel, which will bring social measures," the statement said.

An unofficial survey conducted by the Association among 18 large airlines revealed during January-March 2020 only three episodes of the alleged Covid-19 program in flight, all from passengers to the crew. Four more episodes were messages about the transfer of the virus from the pilot to the pilot, which could occur in flight or before/after it, including a stop. There were no cases of the alleged transfer of infection from the passenger to the passenger, the report said.

With a smaller number of places being sold, caused by social distance measures, the specific costs of airlines will increase sharply.

To cover them, carriers will be forced to raise tariffs by 43-54% compared to last year, depending on the region.

Passenger seedlings through one will reduce the maximum load coefficient to 62%. “This is significantly lower than the average of a breakdown coefficient of 77%,” IATA notes.