news.com.au April 15, 2020 7:22am Of course, public confidence is important in … Mr Joyce said: “We’ve carried a lot of people around the globe since COVID-19 has come out. Qantas, Virgin Australia to ... A number of carriers have begun practicing social distancing on flights in an effort to minimise contact among passengers and cabin crew amid the … But for airlines, it isn’t a sustainable option. But she said the risk of infection also depended on whether Qantas was using “outside” air or “recycled” air, and that refreshing the cabin air every five minutes might not be enough. Lead Journalist - Australasia - A Masters level education and appetite for travel combines to make Andrew an incredible aviation brain with decades of insight behind him. Australian airline Qantas announced new coronavirus safety measures on Tuesday, which don’t include social distancing on flights. “There’s been no known transmission of COVID-19 passenger to passenger or passenger to crew, and there’s huge tracking been done on that, in this country. By continuing to use our site you are agreeing to our. Qantas says face masks are encouraged but not mandatory. It said the air-conditioning on its planes were fitted with hospital-grade HEPA filters, which removed 99.9 per cent of all particles, including viruses. If you did that, you'd have very few people on an aircraft and the airfares would have to be very high.' In addition, the mandatory use of face masks by passengers is being flagged. Subscribe for free to get the latest breaking news and analysis sent to your inbox. No conclusions have been reached.”. Qantas boss claims social distancing is unnecessary on flights and reveals why passengers are unlikely to get coronavirus on planes. “It’s not social distancing, it’s a 60-centimetre difference between two people,” Mr Joyce said. Face masks, but no social distancing: Are Qantas’ coronavirus measures good enough. The new rules will be published on 22 June, Qantas said. Qantas Airways Ltd. said putting extra space between passengers on planes could lead to a big increase in airfares and discourage people from flying. But the airline is itching to get back into the air as soon as possible. ... On-board precautions. Qantas was lobbying government for social distancing rules to be exempt on domestic aircraft once restrictions are relaxed. We respect everyone's right to express their thoughts and opinions, and encourage constructive dialogue among members of this group. Social distancing is one of the mantras of managing this health crisis. Qantas says it will sell middle seats when it returns to carrying crowds of passengers. The airline notes it is cleaning its planes to the highest standards using strong disinfectants. Qantas Airways will fly without social distancing. Qantas rightly states that it has a raft of health and hygiene measures in place that have worked well thus far. “We have a lot of other protections (in addition to social distancing). Social distancing on flights ‘uneconomical’, Qantas boss says. “And we know hundreds of thousands of people have travelled in aircraft, and there’s no person-to-person known transmission on an aircraft.”. 'Extremely low' risk. The carrier’s medical director, Dr Ian Hosegood, said that the chances of catching coronavirus on an aircraft is “extremely low” and that social distancing is unnecessary. “The social distancing rules are supposed to be 1.5 metres. Acknowledging that Qantas would approach the Australian Government to “make the case” for an exemption to social distancing guidelines, Alan Joyce told ABC’s 7.30 on Monday evening. Australian airline Qantas plans to lure back wary travelers with flights as cheap as $12.50 – admitting Wednesday that it wants to pack planes without social distancing in its new coronavirus safety All rights reserved. Social distancing will not be implemented on flights as this is "not practical the way it is on the ground," Ian Hosegood, Qantas' Group Medical Director, said in the statement. The social distancing rules are supposed to be 1.5 meters. Qantas has been operating a number of repatriation flights from overseas on behalf of the Australian Government, on which middle seats are regularly filled to carry as many passengers as possible, which the Government is said to be happy with. “To get the four metres squared, you’ll end up with 22 people on an aircraft of 180 seats … and the airfares are nine to 10 times as much.”. Working closely with airlines including Qantas and Virgin Australia, Andrew’s first-hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing Australian airlines adds exciting depth and color to his work and sees him providing commentary to ABC News and more. Rumours & News - Qantas cheap flights with no social distancing - Certainly some interesting statements. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says adhering to social distancing guidelines is "impractical", warning airfares would soar. Over 200 aircraft are grounded, 95% of domestic capacity and 99% of international capacity is cut. They're just some suggestions to help everyone enjoy, interact and express themselves on our social media channels. If you did that, you'd have very few people on an aircraft and the airfares would have to be very high." If you did that, you’d have very few people on an aircraft, and the airfares would have to be very high.”. Always on the front foot, Qantas is tilling the soil, wanting to dampen expectations that the middle seat will be staying empty when flying resumes. The airline won’t be keeping middle seats empty. Please Support us by turning off your adblocker. Make a flight booking. Mid-flight chaos as passengers protest lack of social distancing How Qantas and Jetstar flights will change due to coronavirus Alan Joyce has said social distancing won't be … However, wearing a mask is not “mandatory” on board, but is recommended for “everyone’s peace of mind”. Qantas has become the latest airline to state that enforcing social distancing on-board an aircraft is not practical, not in the same way that it is on the ground.. If you did that, you'd have very few people on an aircraft and the airfares would have to be very high.'. Bottom Line. Qantas has come under fire after a passenger shared an image of a crowded plane on social media. Because demand for travel remains low, Qantas has usually been able to spread its passengers around the … The airline also said the cabin air was refreshed every five minutes, and that it would provide passengers with wipes, sanitiser and masks. Redeem a Flight … Tuesday, 19 May 2020. Credit: Belga. Qantas have ditched middle seat bookings on planes because of social distancing. Despite COVID-19 not being an airborne virus, Qantas also highlights its operating theatre grade HEPA air filtration systems. The Australian Government is also generally keen on getting people safely moving again and pushing to ease interstate travel restrictions. We have to show that they can apply to domestic. Get The New Daily free every morning and evening. There are no plans to leave middle seats empty. There was an error submitting the form. Qantas Airways Ltd could restart 40-50% of its domestic capacity in July if states relax border controls, and expects to offer low and flexible fares without social distancing measures to stimulate travel demand, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Because demand for travel remains low, Qantas has usually been able to spread its passengers around the aircraft and keep middle seats free. “Being in an aircraft is a high risk … it’s an enclosed space where lots of people congregate for long periods of time,” Professor Raina MacIntyre, a virologist at the University of NSW, told the ABC on Tuesday. Qantas is trying to avoid a mandate from the government requiring them to adhere to social distancing on flights. That doesn’t appear to be Mr Joyce’s preferred option. Social distancing on flights ‘uneconomical’, Qantas boss says Fourth woman accuses ex-staffer of assault ME Bank sold to Bank of Queensland for $1.3 billion Qantas Airways Ltd could restart 40-50% of its domestic capacity in July if states relax border controls, and expects to offer low and flexible fares without social distancing measures to stimulate travel demand, its chief executive said on Tuesday. He told RN Breakfast it would be “uneconomical” to leave the middle seat in every row unfilled and would lead to skyrocketing airfares. Transportation Qantas to ramp up domestic flights without social distancing. Once passengers are seated, they will be asked to "limit movement" around the cabin. Qantas gives passengers masks, but not empty seats, in COVID-19 plan That’s already occurring on some airlines, including Air France, Delta, Singapore Airlines and Philippine Airlines. Body of woman murdered by husband found in freezer, measures to safeguard against the pandemic. The social distancing rules are supposed to be 1.5 meters. Please try again. Has British Airways Been Making Use Of Its Boeing 787-10s? “What kind of social distancing is this?” the passenger posted on … Australian airline sees 50% service rise if it replaces government standards The social distancing rules are supposed to be 1.5 metres. IATA estimates airfares would have to increase by 54% across the Asia Pacific region if airlines ramped up services again while keeping the middle seat empty. Despite Qantas claiming the risk of catching coronavirus on board was “extremely low”, not every medical expert was convinced. Be in the know. A typical domestic flight in Australia has a row of three seats either side of the aisle. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has defended his company’s decision to not abide by social-distancing restrictions on flights. Virgin and Qantas have now stopped passengers sitting next to each other in order to improve social distancing onboard. Assuming you can find a flight, one of the few upsides of flying in recent months has been the empty middle seat. While the country practises social distancing in a bid to combat COVID-19, passengers on-board a Qantas flight have questioned why the rule doesn’t apply on planes. Sign up to our daily aviation news digest. ‘Isn’t going to help at all’: Coalition’s airline bailout blasted, Daniel Andrews ‘up and about’ after painful spinal injury, MinterEllison CEO Annette Kimmitt leaves after sending email criticising firm for taking Christian Porter as client, Scott Morrison watched royals on Oprah, not program on minister rape accusation, October date for virus vaccination completion ‘unlikely’: Brendan Murphy, Disability groups warn against NDIS change, Truckie faces court over Victoria police deaths, Audit office ‘considers’ probe of Dutton’s community safety grants, Samantha Armytage fires parting shot at media, bids, The New Daily uses cookies. But with State Governments around Australia expected to begin to unwind their interstate travel restrictions over the next month, Qantas is expecting demand for its domestic services to surge. Based in Melbourne, Australia. These rules aren't meant to constrain or intrude on your personal opinions and thoughts. If you did that, you’d have very few people on an aircraft, and the airfares would have to be very high.”. Tackling the middle seat issue and arguing there are alternative ways to ensure passenger health, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation yesterday; “Even if you take the middle seat as being empty, that’s 60 centimeters. This includes cleaning and disinfecting the cabin’s surfaces and fixtures. As the airline prepares to ramp up domestic flights, he’s making a solid case against social distancing on planes. It is something people have got used to very quickly. “The average load factors on our aircraft have been very low, with most flights around 30 percent full, so social distancing has been happening by default,” a spokesperson for the … Copyright © 2021 The New Daily. With both Qantas and the government in philosophical lockstep and Qantas on the PR front foot, the days of an empty middle seat on Qantas look numbered. Professor MacIntyre said the use of HEPA filters on Qantas’ flights would help to limit the risk of catching the virus through its air-conditioning. “Social distancing on an aircraft isn’t practical,” Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said during a briefing with reporters Tuesday. Icelandair Sells 2 Of Its Boeing 767s For Leaseback, Many Air France Domestic Flights Will Be Replaced By Trains, Why The Airbus A220 Will Be A Big Win For Air France. Qantas’s hygiene measures: Are they good enough? Mr Joyce also said, based on expert medical advice, his airline’s other precautions were enough to prevent the spread of coronavirus on flights. Qantas has said it is bleeding $26 million a week just standing still. Moving forward, formal social distancing measures are now being enforced on Qantas flights, they said. With an eye firmly fixed on the bottom line, Alan Joyce has no intention of unnecessarily operating half-empty flights around the country if it can be avoided. Ironically, after zilch social distancing on the 15-hour Sydney-Doha flight (the tough bit), I end up with those 3 seats to myself on the second 7-hour Doha-Paris leg. On Tuesday, Qantas released its new measures to safeguard against the pandemic while flying. Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock, Follow these easy steps to disable AdBlock Plus, Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock Origin, Follow these easy steps to disable uBlock, Aiming Big: Norway’s Widerøe Targets Heathrow With E190-E2s. The social distancing rules are supposed to be 1.5 metres. Qantas said today that they plan to lure travelers back with fares as low as $12.50 instead of providing social distancing as part of its new safety protocols.. CEO Alan Joyce announced the $19 ($12.50 USD) flights between Melbourne and Sydney to get back to “40 … Instead, he’s flagged super cheap fares to stimulate domestic travel and to ride on the back of an anticipated domestic tourism boom. Qantas will offer dirt-cheap flights without social distancing Australian airline Qantas plans to lure back wary travelers with flights as cheap as $12.50 – admitting Wednesday that it wants to pack planes without social distancing in its new coronavirus safety protocols. Qantas Works Towards In-Flight Social Distancing Exemptions May 12, 2020 May 12, 2020 / By Anuradha perera / Aviation news / 0 Comments Assuming you can find a flight, one of the few upsides of flying in recent months has been the empty middle seat. The Qantas Group chief executive, Alan Joyce, said at a press conference it would not be financially viable to provide social distancing on flights. $12.50US between Melbourne to Sydney. Qantas enforces new coronavirus precautions on flights, but no social distancing Pre-flight safety. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has defended his company's decision not to abide by social-distancing restrictions on flights. We use ads to keep our content free. There have been some well-publicized exceptions, but mostly this has been the case. All Qantas international flights, excluding certain flights between Australia and New Zealand , are currently suspended, due to government restrictions.