2. Some air travelers pay premium for social distancing
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Business travel remains depressed during the pandemic, but some airlines are seeing more leisure travelers in their first-class cabins.
Why it matters: Many people are avoiding air travel during the public health crisis, fearful they'll catch COVID-19 from a nearby passenger. But for those who can afford it, premium class seats offer more comfort and perhaps a little extra breathing room.
Business travel remains depressed during the pandemic, but some airlines are seeing more leisure travelers in their first-class cabins.
Why it matters: Many people are avoiding air travel during the public health crisis, fearful they'll catch COVID-19 from a nearby passenger. But for those who can afford it, premium class seats offer more comfort and perhaps a little extra breathing room.
Driving the news: Lufthansa's CEO told investors earlier this month his planes were seeing fewer corporate customers and more wealthy French, German and Swiss leisure travelers in first class.
- "There is a segment of people who are traveling for leisure who are willing to pay the premium for first class because it gives them isolation, or separation, from the rest of us," said Madhu Unnikrishnan, editor of Skift's Airline Weekly.
For the record: Airlines say everyone benefits from the extra precautions they've implemented to protect travelers, no matter where they're sitting on the plane.
- That includes mask requirements, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and high-tech ventilation systems that refresh the cabin air every few minutes.
- A recent Harvard study commissioned by the industry concluded the risk of transmission on an airplane is “very low” and that being on an airplane is “as safe if not significantly safer” than going to the grocery store and eating at a restaurant.
- The CDC has not confirmed any cases of airplane transmission, but that does not mean it hasn't happened, a spokeswoman told the Washington Post.
Yes, but: Social distancing is still harder in economy class.
- Some airlines opted to block middle seats to give people more space, but that's not good for the bottom line. Southwest Airlines says it will stop the practice starting Dec. 1, and others are set to follow.
- Only Delta Air Lines has said it will continue blocking middle seats through the first quarter.
There's no indication airlines are reconfiguring their cabins to add more first-class seats. It's too expensive to rip up a plane, and they're still hopeful corporate travel will resume once COVID-19 passes.
The bottom line: Even for ordinary travelers, flying on an airplane doesn't appear to be much of a health risk in itself. It's what you do when you get there that matters.