Safety? Revenue? Peace of mind of the consumer? These are all items to consider for a service provider in the travel sector as we continue to navigate a world changed by COVID-19.
Whether by an airline, a hotel or your travel insurance provider, special considerations are being suggested and tried on daily basis. The International Air Transport Association has called on all governments around the world to reopen borders and continue with relief measures for airlines during the COVID-19 crisis.
As many countries move into the next phase of reopening to domestic and international travel, there is one consistency in place: no one is taking the same approach. Here are some examples of how countries are handling the prospect of opening up travel:
Canada
In conjunction with corporations like Air Canada and Canadian airports, Canada is considering a move away from their current ban on noncitizens and mandatory fourteen day self-isolation to a more layered approach that would include testing, temperature checks, cleaning and mask-wearing in hopes that this approach can replace quarantines.
Mexico
Mexico officially began reopening its vacation and resort destinations on June 8 and currently does not have restrictions on any country's residents or mandatory quarantine periods for those flying into Mexico. Many Mexican cities have adopted the mandatory mask requirements while in public, including Cancun, issuing fines to those who refuse to wear mask coverings.
Border restrictions remain in place for motorist traffic from the US to Mexico for nonessential travel, but border crossing traffic continues to increase month over month per the Department of Homeland Security.
Europe
Britain has taken a digital stance on updates to citizens and visitors alike with condensed websites with the most up to date information, including, most recently, reducing the public gathering size to six from ten.
What are major airlines doing to protect their customers and maintain profits?
As many US and world businesses continue to assess avenues to a return to in-person meetings, conferences and travel in general, airports and airlines are taking some of the below steps:
- Face coverings are mandatory on all airlines while in flight.
- More thorough cleaning, more often, including electro-static spraying of the planes seats and interior surfaces. American Airlines is the first carrier to start using SurfaceWise, a long lasting enhanced disinfectant used on a multitude of surfaces.
- Hand sanitizer is readily available at all airport lounges and airport hubs.
- Physical distancing is encouraged, but not enforced at most US airports