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Observational Study
. 2021 May;26(2):110-117.
doi: 10.1016/j.idh.2020.11.002. Epub 2020 Nov 19.

Air travel in a COVID-19 world: Commercial airline passengers' health concerns and attitudes towards infection prevention and disease control measures

Cristina Sotomayor-Castillo  1 , Kaitlyn Radford  2 , Cecilia Li  3 , Shizar Nahidi  4 , Ramon Z Shaban  5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Air travel in a COVID-19 world: Commercial airline passengers' health concerns and attitudes towards infection prevention and disease control measures

Cristina Sotomayor-Castillo et al. Infect Dis Health. 2021 May.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 and its associated travel bans have reduced international passenger traffic by over 80% below 2019 levels. If airlines are to resume flying at commercially sustainable levels, they must work to restore passengers confidence and sense of security. This study examined commercial airline passengers' health concerns and attitudes towards infection prevention and control measures for travel health and safety in the current COVID-19 global pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted inviting adult members of 39 frequent flyer groups across three social media platforms to participate in an online survey.

Results: A total of 205 respondents completed the survey. The majority (75.6%) reported feeling 'somewhat' to 'extremely concerned' about contracting an infectious disease while flying, particularly respiratory-related. Few (9.8%) reported perceiving their health as an 'essential priority' for their preferred airline. Most respondents agreed airlines should provide complimentary hand sanitisers (86.8%), sanitary wipes (82.9%) and masks (64.4%) for passengers to use while flying as well as more information about preventing the spread of infections (90.7%), which would make the majority feel safer to fly.

Conclusion: COVID-19 has extensively challenged the air travel industry. Passengers have signalled that they expect more from airlines, and that they would actively engage in additional infection prevention and disease control measures while flying. Airlines must ensure passengers about the steps taken to minimize travel-associated risks, and their commitment towards passengers' health and wellbeing, in order to rebuild consumers' confidence in the recovery of the air travel industry.

Keywords: Air travel; COVID-19; Communicable diseases; Infection control; Travel-related illness.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Respondents' level of concern about contracting an infection during air travel.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Infection(s) that participants reported being concerned about contracting during air travel.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Respondents' level of satisfaction with their preferred airline's commitment to keeping them safe from infectious diseases while flying.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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