It's a trick, right? Are they just saying that to preserve ticket sales, no matter the risk?
Not at all, reports Edward Russell in his latest article in The Points Guy. Russell posted a study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), front and center, and has great news to share.
The study showed 44 confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 1.2 billion flyers between January and July 2020 (remember that the coronavirus was active months before exploding onto America cities in March).
How is this possible? Simply, the technology was there all along. In addition to measures like mask wearing, social distancing and enhanced cleaning measures, the manner in which an airplane filters its air in-flight helps reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by leaps and bounds. Another article in The Points Guy details airline filtration systems further.
This study was also supported and confirmed by representatives from Airbus. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Boeing, Delta Air Lines, Embraer, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
While the study doesn't cover the risks of infection in more high-exposure areas like terminals, this is a positive sign that flights themselves are getting safer all the time.
But don't take my word for it: Review IATA's study for yourself.
See us at Morley if you'd like to learn more about best practices for your next live event.