Air travel is safest form of public transport during coronavirus crisis, says adviser

Flying in a plane is the safest form of public transport during the coronavirus outbreak thanks to the "disciplined" approach found within airports and airlines, a professor who advised the Department for Transport (DfT) has said.

Ashley Woodcock, a professor of respiratory medicine at Manchester University, said plane travel was structured in a way that "anarchic" trains or the London Underground were not.

"Travel in planes is a very disciplined environment. People form queues, they sit facing the same way [and as such] it's safer than other forms of public transport because of all the discipline in airports and airlines," said Prof Woodcock, who led an expert group that advised the DfT and industry.

This had been boosted by measures to ensure airports and planes were "super clean", with hand gel stations situated throughout airports, social distancing of two metres where possible and compulsory face coverings to mitigate contact when under two metres apart.

"I think that planes are probably the safest form of public transport compared with the anarchy on the Tube with people milling around," added Prof Woodcock.

He noted that there was a misapprehension about the air in planes which, in fact, was replaced every three to five minutes after passing through a filter, adding: "The air in planes is incredibly clean."

Although airport temperature screening devices could act as a disincentive to people who might be ill, Prof Woodcock said the evidence suggested they were ineffective. For example, they would miss coronavirus sufferers without a temperature and could cause delays when picking up people with common colds.

DfT guidance has recommended that airlines extensively clean aircraft, increase the availability of hand-washing facilities and hand sanitisers, and reduce face-to-face interactions between staff and passengers. Staff are also equipped with visors and plastic gloves.

The department has also proposed that travellers should check in all baggage before boarding flights in order to minimise its contact with passengers and speed up embarkation.

Other advice for passengers includes wearing face coverings in airports and remaining seated as much as possible during flights. People who fail to wear masks or coverings could be stopped from embarking.