While we’re looking forward to the day we can finally travel again, one thing’s for sure: air travel will not be the same post-Covid-19.

In fact, change is in already the air, literally. Airlines have begun adopting safe distancing measures on flights, even as most of the world is still in lockdown and travel has come to a grinding halt.

Mandatory face masks for passengers, for instance, has become one of the most common new protocols that airlines have adopted. But how else is air travel changing, from check-in processes to inflight protocols to aircraft sanitisation? And how will that evolve further when the world opens up again and we all can finally take to the skies again?

Here’s how air travel is looking a little different now, and in time to come.

Main photo: Emirates

Probably the most common new rule across the board? Making it a must for passengers to don face masks or face coverings on flights. Some airlines also require passengers to don face masks even before they board the plane at the airport or check-in lobby.

Most recently, Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot announced that all passengers aged two and above have to wear masks throughout flights — and it’s a BYO sitch. All passengers will also go through a verbal health declaration and temperature checks before boarding.

Major players in America — including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines — have also made it mandatory for passengers to wear face masks onboard the aircraft. Finnair, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Air France, Air Canada, Lufthansa and Eva Air have also put in place this regulation on flights.

To facilitate safe distancing between passengers on the plane, some airlines are reducing flight capacities and/or blocking off selected seats between passengers, in order to allow for greater physical space between individuals onboard.

Emirates will allocate vacant seats between individual passengers or family groups, while JAL and American Airlines customers will not be able to book certain seats. Delta is also limiting the number of passengers per flight and is blocking middle seats in Economy, Comfort Plus and Premium Select cabins. Meanwhile, United Airlines is limiting seat selections across all cabins — middle seats are out of bounds, and passengers will be alternated, even across aisles.

Scoot has announced that from June 1, passengers may only bring on board one piece of cabin baggage, with a limit of 3kg. This is to minimise congestion during boarding and disembarking. Previously, Scoot passengers could carry on up to 10kg and 15kg cabin baggage in Economy and ScootPlus respectively. However, with this new policy in place, the remaining baggage (up to 7kg in Economy and 12kg for Scootplus) may be checked in at no additional cost.

Cabin baggage is not allowed on Emirates flights, and passengers are only allowed carry-on items such as laptops, handbags, briefcases or baby items. All other items will have to be checked in, though check-in baggage allowance will be increased. Similarly, Lufthansa now limits hand luggage to just one piece per passenger, and additional hand luggage can be checked in for free.

Finnair’s advisory states that cabin luggage should be able to fit under the seat in front of the passenger, to avoid folks having to stand up to access the overhead baggage compartment and to decrease unnecessary movement onboard.

Airlines are also minimising meal services on international flights, and some are doing away with meal service on domestic flights.

Among the earliest adopters of this policy is Eva Air. Since Apr 10, the airline has suspended pre-orders for meals on premium classes, limited inflight meals for long haul flights, and provided only snack bags for short haul flights. ANA and Qantas have placed similar limitations on their meal services.

Similarly, meal services are suspended on SQ and SilkAir flights within Southeast Asia and Mainland China. Instead, a snack bag with water and refreshments will be provided upon boarding. Meals will be provided on all other flights, however, the list of special dietary meals have been reduced.

Emirates, on the other hand, now serves meals in bento boxes in order to “reduce contact between the crew and customers during meal service, and minimise risk of interaction”. British Airways has also done away with catering to special dietary requirements, though passengers are allowed to bring food that doesn’t require heating or chilling.

Main photo: Emirates
Other photos: Pexels