[SimonS1]

Good to see that Ryanair expect to be at 40% of schedule from 1st July flying from 19 UK airports to 25 countries.

It’s all sounding a bit more positive.

Ryanair Will Begin Operating 1000 Flights Out of 19 UK Airports on July 1

[MarcusGB]

Looking at the BT Postings of news, so many Airlines are determined and planning to re-launch flights again now being revealed, around July / August.
(Thanks to the BT Team for these informed articles).

At least The Airlines are determined to progress, and Airports along with them, and put in place all that can enable safe travel as is possible. It does seem that they are pushing Governments to also make progress and restart Aviation, so really the Opposite of leadership on this happening.
Poor leadership from The UK here, as they should be talking to the Public about Travel, Aviation, and start negotiating with other countries in Europe, for these “Air Bridges”. Set out the Policies and procedures, so there is uniformity, and enable this to be made known to the Public, plainly for everyone to understand, and adhere too.

These Air Bridges to start within the EU, would enable the Airlines and us as travellers, to make a start again, boost tourism within Europe, so all those small businesses in so many countries depending upon Aviation travel and Tourism, get a set date with prospects of opening up again.

The Aviation sector, the various Media sources, need to simply convey what they are doing for all travellers when on board, as many of the public are not aware. Simply to explain the use of HEPA filters, new cleaning regimes, some scientific evidence that show how safe it is to fly. A good documentary and articles written to go through all that will now have to change when people begin to fly again. This would greatly educate and re-assure the public, so that they can have confidence and start to purchase Air Travel again.
Many Airlines are retiring certain Aircraft types, for new increased technology, more comfortable, less polluting travel. I noted the B 777 types phasing out, which surprised me, so we shall see more Dreamliner Aircraft, and A350 types for long haul. This could improve the Environmental implications of flying drastically.

The re-emerging of Aviation, may well be an improved experience, in terms of the use of new aircraft.
Sadly it could mean fewer flights, less Airlines, and perhaps if more space were on board between seats, higher prices.
But there is one opportunity to get it right, slowly and surely, as such subsidies as we have seen, will not be on going, nor re-introduced.

I agree, that though S. Korea as has been pointed out, are finding a re-emergence of the virus, and retrograde steps are brought back in. This is alarming, especially as they were one of the most effective to control the Pandemic in their country and region. Sadly, it is predictable and no surprise, that we will experience Waves, and perhaps a spike in Winter too.

There is the Expectation in the UK, that there will be another surge with already the numbers with easing of restrictions , when there are new infections of 8,000 a day, reported on BBC news last eve. Until a vaccine is effective and used, (without any severe side effects), the presence of Covid – 19 will still be around.
We are indeed going to have to adapt for now, learn how to live with it, as best as we can.
With the One chance for most Airlines to re-emerge in a new different way, let us hope they get it right, to install safety and reassurance into flying a new way.

[GivingupBA]

MarcusGB said, “S. Korea as has been pointed out, are finding a re-emergence of the virus…..”. That is not the case in my opinion or rather, can I please suggest, is an exaggeration. I am now in South Korea – I have been here for 12 weeks. There have been a few new cases, that’s all (and in response the government is taking some precautionary measures).

Back to this thread…. I suggest it’s time for the UK government to cancel the proposed 14-day quarantine for inbound travellers from 8 June. In my view far more people and companies are against it than for it. And it will do great harm to the UK economy if left in place, i.e. do far more harm than good. And why the many exceptions to the quarantine? — it should be for all travellers, or none, it’s currently a policy full of holes. (PS I am not suggesting this for personal reasons – it would hardly affect me at all).

[MartynSinclair]

[quote quote=999689]Good to see that Ryanair expect to be at 40% of schedule from 1st July flying from 19 UK airports to 25 countries.

It’s all sounding a bit more positive.[/quote]

Indeed it appears the world is beginning to open up, with the UK leading the way with flight schedules. Even noticed the occasional direct flight(s) between Wuhan and London Heathrow, which a colleague at Heathrow confirmed was being kept very quiet.

I find it extremely worrying when 3 eminent scientific advisers, Prof John Edmunds, Sir Jeremy Farrar and Prof Peter Horby, all stating publicly, it may be too early to reduce the lockdown. Accepting of course we MUST protect the economy, it appears there is a very fine line between protecting the economy and protecting lives.

I can only assume our resident ‘lets get on with life’ expert has access to different sets of data to justify a comment “its all sounding a bit more positive”.

At least when you spin a roulette wheel, you know the odds.

[DavidSmith2]

[postquote quote=999697][/postquote]

Yes – whatever you bet and whatever you play, the casino wins!

[SimonS1]

[quote quote=999697]I can only assume our resident ‘lets get on with life’ expert has access to different sets of data to justify a comment “its all sounding a bit more positive”[/quote]

Personally I don’t need data sets Martyn. I’m quite capable of making my own mind up and organising myself. This is not the nanny state.

I think it’s called choice.

We all have choices to make, mine may be to get on with things, yours maybe to stay indoors for the next year dressed in full PPE. Each to their own.

[MartynSinclair]

[quote quote=999701]This is not the nanny state.

I think it’s called choice.

We all have choices to make, mine may be to get on with things, yours maybe to stay indoors for the next year dressed in full PPE. Each to their own.[/quote]

I believe we are currently in a form ‘Nanny State’, otherwise we would all be free to ignore the Government rules and ‘get on with things’ with total disregard to others?

As some have suggested Greece may change their mind about opening themselves up to UK travellers. But it will be interesting to see if Ryan do manage to fly from 19 UK airports to 25 countries, representing 40% of their network by July 1st.

I genuinely hope SimonS1 your positive spirit is proved the correct … and the 3 outspoken experts were wrong – time will tell.

As an aside – an update on the British pilot in Vietnam who sadly remains extremely sick.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-british-pilot-with-covid-19-in-vietnam-wakes-from-coma-but-needs-lifesaving-lung-transplant-11997324

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K1ngston

[SimonS1]

[quote quote=999705]I believe we are currently in a form ‘Nanny State’, otherwise we would all be free to ignore the Government rules and ‘get on with things’ with total disregard to others?[/quote]

Well the Government sets the ground rules, beyond that it’s a matter of personal choice.

Flights are starting to operate, garden centres are open, shops will all be free to open in a fortnight and so on. That isn’t disregard for others, it’s the direction we are moving in.

I have had a coffee and croissant in a local coffee shop for the last 3 Saturdays, tables outside on the pavement, beautiful weather….I didn’t need data sets or experts to opine on it. The family run bike shop over the road was doing excellent business.

But as I say no-one is forced to go outside, to an airport or anywhere else, everyone is free to continue isolating if they feel that is the best way of being alert.

Sorry to hear of the pilot in Vietnam. Truly there have been many tragedies in this saga.

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J_Pathmore, K1ngston

[canucklad]

On a positive note, Radio Scotland this morning, Loganair resuming flights from Aberdeen to Newcastle & Birmingham .
Decision making process partly driven by business demand as companies react to the ease of restrictions

On a much less positive note, was talking to one of my best friends whose a pilot with Cathay. He’s been told to expect an announcement in the next couple of weeks.
His expectations are pretty low, using the words slice and dice to describe the impending announcement . Perfect storm of protesters returning and ongoing virus restrictions making it bleak for the short to mid term . Add in China’s increasing negative influence and things look bad for the HK carrier.
Fingers crossed for him and the rest of the Cathay family

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SimonS1

[SimonS1]

[quote quote=999759]Fingers crossed for him and the rest of the Cathay family[/quote]

Indeed, it’s not looking too smart for HK for many reasons. When Carrie Lam was humiliated into withdrawing last year’s legislation it was clear that wouldn’t be the end of it and the coronavirus saga was just a pause en-route. Cathay must really be hemorrhaging cash right now.

[MartynSinclair]

One of my continual thoughts, which I presume this thread is the appropriate place for discussion is how airports are going to operate as borders open up.

Social distancing – the phrase of 2020, will clearly be enforced from the moment one arrives at an airport. I imagine the lines through security will be longer, close contact will still be needed for secondary searches. Will there be additional health checks q’s. Once through to airside, will there be one way systems created, similar to those created at the gates at those airports who separate arriving and inbound passengers. I wonder how the shops and lounges will operate…

Then the big contradiction, the boarding area. As has previously been suggested, social distancing to board a 300+ airlines is impossible, so there will be a transition area, from social distancing 2020 back to lets board and scramble for space 2019 style.

Once on board, BA appear to have come out as one of the few airlines who will not be insisting on masks, most others do. How will passengers react it someone takes off their mask to eat, fall asleep without putting it back on, G-d forbid they then sneeze.

Then of course, there will be all the different protocols each country will be adopting, in some cases affecting transit passengers as well as arriving passengers.

Accepting we are at the start of the process, but the key to the skies becoming busy again, will IMHO, be 100% dependant how passengers are able to flow through the airports.

My hope is that the world’s scientific and medical advisers / experts, will agree procedures that do not cause lines and q’s at both entry and exit points.

Really interested to read passenger experiences of long haul travel, as borders re open…

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ASK1945

[J_Pathmore]

More news out of Europe today that the end of lockdowns has not impacted the spread of the virus. Countries are marching forward with re-opening and not seeing a resurgence. Italian medical experts/heads now believe that the virus has fundamentally changed since it broke out, and is both weaker and less prevalent. This was exactly what happened with the other two coronaviruses – SARS and MERS. Doctors working on a vaccine are concerned that late stage trials won’t be effective because the virus might not be prevalent enough at that point in time.

I want to be cautiously optimistic but continue to stress that there is no “science” that argues there will be a second wave or that things will get worse when countries and borders open up. Should countries be prepared with ample supplies of testing, PPE etc? Absolutely. As echoed by others here, S Korea is not seeing a radical second wave of infections so no need to scare folks.

Protests have broken out across the US – gatherings of thousands of people. The next two weeks will surely be a good indicator as to where we are with the pandemic. It’s now time for countries to favor choice and allow democratic citizens to make up their own minds on traveling, staying home, and everything in between.

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TupeloKid

[SimonS1]

[quote quote=999777]Social distancing – the phrase of 2020, will clearly be enforced from the moment one arrives at an airport.[/quote]

In reality I suspect there will be plenty of warm words but airports will find in practice it simply doesn’t work (I think John Holland-Kaye has already worked that out…. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52504183).

Personally I can’t see how it will be possible to social distance in the airport with queues literally kilometers long to board. Then wait for the winter weather where people are queued outside in the rain and cold. And all the other issues like the inter terminal transit at Gatwick, which comes out at the entrance to the rail station, both of which were rammed to capacity only 4 months ago.

Plus on planes – keeping 2 meters apart would by my calculation mean about 30% of capacity (translate as non profitable flights).

Good luck to all involved, however if I wanted to involve contact with fellow humans then the airport would be the last place I would visit.

[SimonS1]

*involve = avoid

[MartynSinclair]

[quote quote=999795]In reality I suspect there will be plenty of warm words but airports will find in practice it simply doesn’t work (I think John Holland-Kaye has already worked that out…. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52504183).[/quote]

SimonS1 – whilst we appear to agree on the impossibilities of social distancing when flying, my point was that undoubtedly there will social distancing on entry into an airport for the sake of ‘social decency’. At some point at or close to the boarding gates social distancing will all but disappear and the boarding scrum will begin. A bit like a surgical team scrubbing up and gowning up to walk through a hospital, only to enter a non sterile operating theatre.

I also have wondered whether airports will only permit ticketed passengers into the departure hall to try and reduce the numbers, as in HKG during the time of the riots.

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