How coronavirus will forever change airlines and the way we fly

How coronavirus will forever change airlines and the way we fly

In a matter of months, the coronavirus reset the clock on a decades-long aviation boom that's been one of the great cultural and economic phenomena of the postwar world. Higher fares, fewer routes, pre-flight health checks and less free food: The coronavirus pandemic is ushering in a new era of air travel.. Budget carrier EasyJet is among those planning to keep middle seats empty, at least initially, to reassure customers about personal spacing.. Even before the virus struck, carriers there typically made only $3 of profit from each customer, according to IATA.. IATA's chief executive, Alexandre de Juniac, said the wearing of face masks might reassure passengers, but keeping middle seats empty would be challenging and reduce maximum seat capacity to below break-even levels.. The essential nature of air travel - it underpins trade, diplomacy, business and tourism - is forcing governments the world over to prop up carriers.. Fornaro expects a shift from air to high-speed rail travel in Europe and China to accelerate..