Recommendation was overdue / Flying dangerous without precautions / Economic considerations must not override health protection / Legal requirements if necessary
 

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have issued recommendations for the prevention of Covid-19 infections in aircraft. According to these recommendations, passengers should wear masks and there should be a distance between them in the aircraft. For this purpose, it is said that one seat per row or every second row in the aircraft should be left free. MEP Peter Liese, EPP spokesperson for health emphatically welcomed the recommendation. "This recommendation was overdue. I think it completely disproportionate that we allow restaurant owners; fitness studio operators and others to work only under strict conditions and with the necessary distance, but that the airlines still have the option of operating the aircraft down to the last seat.

The airlines argue that due to ventilation system in the aircraft, the risk is low, but this is only partly true. The ventilation can prevent infections, but if someone coughs right next to me in a crowded plane, the risk of infection is of course very high. According to experts, the filters that are installed to protect against infectious diseases only work against bacteria and not reliably against viruses. If there were good filters and ventilation systems to prevent infection even in densely packed seats, then we should install these filters in primary schools immediately and let all children go back to school. The example already shows that it is probably not that simple. It is not acceptable that airlines, because they have a better lobby, should be favoured over other important sectors of the economy and society. I am in favour of legislation to force those airlines that do not follow the recommendations to do so," concluded Liese.