Airlines Try to Build Trust Among Passengers
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Airlines Try to Build Trust Among Passengers

Photo by:   Artur Tumasjan, Unsplash
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Sofía Hanna By Sofía Hanna | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Tue, 01/19/2021 - 18:45

Airlines are trying to find new ways to boost travelers' confidence in flying without discriminating against travelers without vaccination. Now that the vaccine is starting to become more available worldwide, asking for vaccination proof could seem a good strategy to make passengers feel safe. However, there are not enough people vaccinated yet for the industry to rely on this specific group.

Governments worldwide have started to implement more sanitary restrictions, especially in the commercial travel industry. Unfortunately, as previously mentioned in an MBN article, some restrictions make travelers less interested in flying. The new "SafeGuardTM" label helps airports attract more customers but quarantines, mandatory tests, new bans on flights to certain destinations and now the possibility of needing to be vaccinated are limiting the number of passengers.

According to René Armas Maes, Commercial Vice President and Partner of MIDAS Aviation, "based on the capacity of seats in the market one month before this type of measure was implemented, we have observed on average a 30 percent drop in future reservations.” When coupled with lingering quarantines, Armas highlights the impact is even larger, reports A21.

In Mexico, new measures have also been implemented to ensure in-flight safety, especially for flights to the US, even including denying boarding and issuing a fine to passengers who present false results. Viva Aerobus decided to offer antigen tests with results in 30 minutes to avoid flight disruption. At the moment, Viva Aerobus has flights to San Antonio, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, Miami and New York. As stated in a previous MBN article, Viva Aerobus inaugurated four new commercial routes in December, so this could be the reason for this rapid response. Even though the airline will be providing this service, it will be necessary for the passenger to present proof of a negative viral test carried out 72 hours before departure to the US, reported by A21.

Given the new rules and requirements, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has asked airlines across the world not to discriminate against those who wish to travel without having received the COVID-19 vaccine and reemphasized its support for initiatives to apply tests and detect the virus to guarantee mobility and prevent the spread of the disease.

"It will take a significant amount of time to vaccinate the world's population, particularly those in less advanced countries or in different age groups. Also, the most vulnerable groups should be prioritized. A general vaccination requirement would simply discriminate against non-vulnerable groups who may travel with a negative COVID-19 test," said Gloria Guevara, CEO of the WTTC, according to A21.

Photo by:   Artur Tumasjan, Unsplash

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