Watch: Aviation’s recovery from Coronavirus

Title: Safe Skies – Can Air Travel Recover in A Post Covid World?

Duration: 8:16 minutes

Description: 

Alex Macheras, aviation expert gives us an in-depth analysis on how the aviation industry can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safe Skies – Can Air Travel Recover in A Post Covid World? Transcript

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Super fades in in the middle of the screen. A graphic of a plane rests on the sky blue background.

Shell group of companies offers a platform for open and informed discussion on current development opportunities and challenges in Aviation. The opinion expressed and arguments employed are solely individual views of the authors/presenters. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Shell group of companies and should not be reported as representing the official views of Shell. Shell group of companies shall not be held responsible or liable in any manner whatsoever for any possible violations of copyright resulting from the posting of any written material on this website, nor is it responsible for any content or comments made therein.

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Alex Macheras fades into screen

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Lower third graphic fades into screen, reading, “SAFE SKIES: CAN AIR TRAVEL RECOVER IN A POST-COVID WORLD?
ALEX MACHERAS
AVIATION ANALYST”

Bug fades in at the top right of the screen, reading, “SAFE SKIES: CAN AIR TRAVEL RECOVER IN A POST-COVID WORLD? PRESENTED BY: ALEX MACHERAS”
[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Hello everyone! I’m Alex Macheras - aviation analyst and frequent flyer - but like you, I haven’t been flying very much over the last few months. In fact, I have been completely at home as international borders remain closed, flights were suspended, and the world did their part in curbing the COVID-19 spread.

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Video montage of the airport is seen on screen
[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
This crisis is something that the aviation sector has never faced before. The only way we can have the industry recover is to give people the confidence to connect via air travel again.

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Graphic imitating an air ticket reads: “SAFE SKIES: CAN AIR TRAVEL RECOVER IN A POST-COVID WORLD? PRESENTED BY: ALEX MACHERAS.” Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
I crowdsourced many opinions from my social media channels to be able to find out what are the expectations when it comes to the measures for air travel?

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Animated airport scene. Question “What do you expect airlines & airports to do or implement for you to fly with confidence again?” appears on screen in typewriter style. Airplane and cloud graphics in background move.

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Graphic slides in from the left, reading: “HYGIENE.” Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Many people agree that hygiene is probably going to be the focus for air travel amid the pandemic.

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Graphic reads: “85% Airport/airplane cleaning”, “79% Airport/airplane staff tested/safe”, “Source: IATA”

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Broken into 3 boxes, the graphic reads: “Masks, sanitising stations, wipes for pax, cashless, use all doors for boarding/leaving aircraft” in the first box, “Masks, hand sanitizer, social distancing between seats and a day care pack of wipes, masks etc.” in the second box, and “Masks, gloves and sanitizer. Packaged meals in flight. Mandatory PPE KITS” in the third.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Several passengers called for hygiene kits to be distributed.

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Graphic reads: “Hygiene kits and social distancing on board”

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Some airlines have been very forward-thinking with this and supplying them to passengers and the feedback has been very positive

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
At the same time, there was a general consensus that less interactions, the better.

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Graphic swoosh in from left of screen
Broken into 3 boxes, the graphic reads: “Safety and sanitization and convenience” in the first box, “Full clean/disinfect of seats, tray tables, toilets. No more short turnarounds or 25mins” in the second box, and a Tweet reading “Laird Kay @laird_kay Gate staff need not touch travel docs (pax can all self scan), and that galleys have sanitizing wipes (pax can wipe seats etc for 100% confidence).” in the third.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
This is something that airlines will need to be considering as part of their passenger confidence building.

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An image of Finnish Air CEO Topi Manner appears on screen.
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Lower third graphic appears on screen, reading, “SAFE SKIES: CAN AIR TRAVEL RECOVER IN A POST-COVID WORLD? Topi Manner CEO Finnair”.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
I’m on a call with Finnair CEO, Topi Manner to find out more about how they are giving passengers a piece of mind on board their flights.

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Sound of a phone ringing
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Both Finnair CEO Topi Manner and Alex are seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Thank you so much for joining me this afternoon. What’s Finnair’s plans to get the aircraft back in the air, with passengers back on board of course over the next six months.

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen alone

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CEO of Finnair, Topi Manner is seen on screen with accompanying graphics that reads “MASK WEARING REQUIRED FOR ALL PASSENGERS”, “SAFE BOARDING PROCEDURES”, “MINIMISE CONTACT DURING FLIGHT”.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
CEO Finnair
Topi Manner
We ask all of our passengers to use masks during the flight, and in addition to that, we are onboarding the aircraft from the rear in order to limit the mobility within the aircraft. We are adjusting onboard service to minimise the contact between our personnel and the passengers, and so on and so forth. So these measures are designed to boost customers’ comfort and confidence related to flying.

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen alone

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Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Nordic airline and the flag carrier Finland Finnair have been a really great example at implementing various health protection measures throughout the air travel process in order to build up international travel as quickly as they can.

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Animated airport scene. Question “If measures are implemented successfully, will they be enough to restore passenger confidence to fly?” appears on screen in typewriter style. Airplane and cloud graphics in background move.
[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
But are these health measures enough?

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[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
The short answer is yes. Some airlines have been really proactive with this, and this hasn’t gone by unnoticed.

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Graphic swoosh in from left of screen
The boxed graphic contains a Tweet that reads “Mohamed Al Hawal @qtrr93 QA has implemented some measures such as: - Face mask & shield are required for all passengers. - All cabin crew wear PPE suits. - Allowing only passengers with valid tickets to enter the airport. - Distributing protective kits to all passengers on board.”

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[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
But can more be done? Many users brought up on Instagram what is becoming the most talked about topic of COVID-19 air travel right now: social distancing.

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Broken into 3 boxes, the graphic reads: “Temperatures screening before boarding, face masks mandatory, middle seat empty” in the first box, “Masks are mandatory for all and space between passengers, That’s the minimum” in the second box, and “Have planes fly with 40% capacity and install good air filters” in the third.

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Graphic slides in from the left, reading: “SOCIAL DISTANCING”. Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
At this time it’s probably not sustainable for the long term

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A graph appears on screen explaining passenger capacity with 3 percentages marked out: 100%, 50% and 0%. The graph moves along with Alex’s narration of 62% and 77%.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
If we were to social distance passengers in that cabin, we would be taking capacity down to around 62%. The problem for airlines is that they don’t typically break even until around 77 percent mark in terms of passenger capacity

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Digital sounds to depict movement of graph

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CEO of Finnair, Topi Manner is seen on screen alone

[Conversation/ speech Title]
CEO Finnair
Topi Manner
An aircraft is a pretty similar environment in terms of virus transmission than [what] an office space would be or a shopping mall would be. We need to mitigate the health-related risks by other means.

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen alone

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
It’s already becoming evident just how important it is to be able to enforce policies like mandatory masks. The risk of droplets moving from one passenger to another in a very close environment remains, and that risk can be virtually eliminated if all passengers have their masks on.

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

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Graphic in the middle of the screen reads: “THE QUARANTINE ISSUE”. Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.
[Animated sequence]
Animated airport scene. Question “Will your flying habits change post-covid? How or how not?” appears on screen in typewriter style. Airplane and cloud graphics in background move.
[SFX plays]
Sound of typing on keys

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
While flying habits may or may not have changed, what definitely has changed is the uncertainty over where people can fly.

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen

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The boxed graphic contains a Tweet that reads “Paul Bedward @Paul_Bedward Currently I’m avoiding international travel due to possible border closers suddenly being enacted. Or confusion over updated visa / entry requirements.”

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
It seems that many still have air travel confidence to be able to fly, but not when there is uncertainty from the fluid and dynamic situation that COVID-19 has become.

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2 charts appears on screen reading “50% will travel as soon as possible for specific purposes” and “83% are unwilling to undergo quarantine” as Alex explains passenger willingness to fly

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Graphic reads: “I’m no less confident in flying. But I’m less confident in the financial security of booking in advance”

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Many passengers have had to cancel their trips at the last minute because of last minute quarantine periods being imposed at their destination.

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[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
In-out, in-out quarantine periods are simply not sustainable for the long term, and there are ways now in which airlines, airports, governments and public health authorities are collaborating to roadmap replacements to these quarantine periods

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Broken into 3 boxes, the graphic reads 3 separate tweets: “Mark Eichin @eichin not that any place I want to go will let me in right now, but can't have a two week trip with a risk of two weeks quarantine.” in the first box, “Davedontstandsoclosetome @daveyinge I'd fly tomorrow if I could. It's not the flight that concerns me, it's the airport and disembarking. ” in the second box, and “Alex PTC@sosuhor Essential travel only. My family were unable to return home for 3 months after flying to visit inlaws. And I know people who lost their jobs due to not being able to travel back.” in the third.

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

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Icons representing an airline, airport, government and public health authorities fade in to screen to establish their relationship

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
So if we do have to travel, I asked what is the number one COVID-19 health protection measure passengers expect or want to be in place before they fly.

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

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Broken into 3 boxes, the graphic reads 3 separate tweets: “Annalisa Fernandez @BecauseCulture some airports are testing at stations set up at departure and/or arrival gates. Covid19 testing replacing medieval quarantines.” in the first box, “Carol Braddick @CBraddick TSA pre /Global Entry criteria include OK 2 travel based on health check (temp, symptoms, negative 4 virus)” in the second box, and “سامي @samiabdullah44 A compulsory PCR test for travellers with a maximum validity of 48 hours prior to take off.” in the third.

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Rapid, reliable testing is becoming clear to be one of the few extremely strategic and effective ways into building up that air travel recovery, and bringing back peace of mind for passengers.

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

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Graphic that reads “South Korean test kits go global.” is piled on top of newspaper cut-outs.

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Video montage of COVID-19 testing is seen on screen

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
A South Korean developed rapid, reliable test is currently underway test results can be given to passengers in less than 12 minutes. Now this could really bring back a significant amount of peace of mind for passengers if flights declared as “COVID-free,”

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[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Global shocks like 9/11 had the capacity to shape and determine how air travel looks today.

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Image of 9/11 is seen on screen

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Using this precedent, we have the ability to do this with COVID-19 but this time with a renewed focus on hygiene.

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
If we can tell the world that yes, as passengers, “you will arrive at your destination, you will be able to enter, here’s what will be expected of you” then that reassurance will give passengers the peace of mind to get back into the skies.

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Video montages of passengers at an airport are seen on screen. This also includes shots of them undergoing COVID-19 protocols at the airport like temperature taking, wearing of masks, and thermal cameras.

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CEO of Finnair, Topi Manner is seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
CEO Finnair
Topi Manner
We want to be predictable, and we want to be reliable for our customers. We want to do what we can, to enable that in this otherwise very uncertain environment.

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen alone

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
At the end of the day, we are in a battle to defeat the uncertainty. We need the peace of mind for passengers who are either thinking about flying, or flying and are concerned about the implications throughout the air travel process.

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Chart animation
3 charts appear on screen. It reads
“Top three measures that create a feeling of safety:

1. 37% - Screening of all passengers for coronavirus/COVID-19 at departure 
2. 34% - Mandatory wearing of masks in airports and planes by passengers 
3. 33% - Social distancing on aircraft
   Source: IATA”

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Video montages of passengers at an airport are seen on screen. This also includes shots of them undergoing COVID-19 protocols at the airport like temperature taking and wearing of masks. The last shot features an aircraft taking off.

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Sound of airplane taking off from runway

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
For us to come out of this crisis thriving, air travel needs to ensure that all stakeholders are working together to ensure that they’re able to create the new normal for air travel.

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CEO of Finnair, Topi Manner is seen on screen with accompanying graphics that reads “GLOBAL HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS” and “COLLABORATION ACROSS AVIATION STAKEHOLDERS”.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
CEO Finnair
Topi Manner
We would advocate for is global standards in terms of health and safety. I think that that would be very beneficial. We would be looking at global collaboration, that would be definitely preferable, not only for airlines for definitely for the travelling audience.
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Graphic slides in from the left, reading: “KEY TAKEAWAYS.”

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Graphic slides up, revealing accompanying bullet points that come onto the screen in a typewriter style. The first point reads “1. Implementing confidence building measures for the entire aviation process”

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
The key takeaways are, number one Implementing confidence building measures for the entire aviation process.

Airlines that are implementing a layered approach with their measures are continuing to push the risk down, while rebuilding passenger confidence. Especially those airlines that are going further by communicating their measures to ensure better passenger understanding. For passengers, it's already becoming quite clear there is a difference between those airlines that appear that they are putting in all of the effort and those airlines that are simply not.

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“KEY TAKEAWAYS” graphic reappears, revealing accompanying bullet points that come onto the screen in a typewriter style. The first point reads “1. Implementing confidence building measures for the entire aviation process” and the second reads “COVID-19 testing as a strategy”.

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Two, COVID-19 Testing As A Strategy

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
Testing remains one of the few strategic options available to airlines and the stronger the collaboration between airlines, airports, governments and public health agencies surrounding testing, the better. We’re already seeing nations use testing as one of their options to remain open and restore air travel demand while remaining committed to public health.

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[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
And finally, three. Harmonization and a global standard

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“KEY TAKEAWAYS” graphic reappears, revealing accompanying bullet points that come onto the screen in a typewriter style. The first point reads “1. Implementing confidence building measures for the entire aviation process” and the second reads “COVID-19 testing as a strategy”. The third and final bullet point reads “Harmonization and a global standard”.

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Plane graphic slides up from outside the frame, revealing the next clip.

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Aviation Analyst Alex Macheras is seen on screen

[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
If everyone is able to harmonize, then together we can collectively drive longer term aviation recovery. If there’s less patchiness but more consistency, then together we can define the new normal for aviation, rebuild passenger confidence and begin to connect people together in the way aviation does so well.

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[Conversation/ speech Title]
Aviation Analyst
Alex Macheras
I’m Alex Macheras, aviation analyst. Thank you so much for watching and I hope to see you in the skies again soon.

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Shell logo fades into screen, with the words

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Below, the disclaimer reads, “Shell group of companies offers a platform for open and informed discussion on current development opportunities and challenges in Aviation. The opinion expressed and arguments employed are solely individual views of the authors/presenters. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Shell group of companies and should not be reported as representing the official views of Shell. Shell group of companies shall not be held responsible or liable in any manner whatsoever for any possible violations of copyright resulting from the posting of any written material on this website, nor is it responsible for any content or comments made therein.”