But the war for the skies is fierce, The weirdness of being a talkSport presenter when there’s no sport, What happens when vaccine scepticism takes over? Around 37 per cent of US consumers surveyed by McKinsey expect to reduce their international travels once the crisis has subsided, compared to just 18 per cent who expect to travel more. Intensive care patients from London could be taken to YORKSHIRE for treatment as hospitals in Covid hotspots... Britain records 53,135 Covid cases in record daily high and another 414 deaths with Boris Johnson set to... How a QUARTER of hospitals are operating at Covid 'danger zone' with fifth of beds taken up by infected... New strain of coronavirus ravaging London and south east is 54 per cent more infectious than other variant,... ROSS CLARK: 47,750 deaths in English hospitals. Ryanair sold its fleet of 20 737-200 aircraft to Autodirect Aviation LLC for $8.1 million in October 2004. There are airports around the world that have already restarted operations that can give us a glimpse into what things might look like when more flights resume. The remaining 11 aircraft had been in service at least once every four days. Secondary school re-opening 'WILL be delayed by at least an extra week but primaries will open on schedule'... SARAH VINE: It's madness to treat our schools like nail bars or nightclubs, DR KAREN STREET: I've seen the shocking mental toll of school closures on teenagers. Some airlines, like Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines, have taken the opportunity to retire some of their aircraft early, so that they don’t have to pay to keep them in long-term storage and continue the maintenance checks. There are … The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Alex Lee. On May 1 Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told the BBC that the company was struggling to process a backlog of 25 million refunds. by entering your email address, you agree to our privacy policy, By Welcome onboard the economy cabins of the near-future - where plane passengers are shielded from each other by plastic screens. TRIAL OFFER Chief executive Johan Lundgren said the social distancing measures would encourage passengers to fly in the months after the pandemic recedes. Designs have emerged for two post-coronavirus economy cabin concepts aimed at helping to prevent future pandemics. Ryanair is among a host of airlines raising concerns that measures to slow the spread of the pandemic could blight profitability long after the travel restrictions end. It did not specify if some seats would be left empty. Aviation trade publication Simply Flying surveyed 47 of Ryanair’s aircraft in March and found that all but one of them had been flown. At Hong Kong International Airport, all arrivals have to be isolated for 14 days, with a nearby conference centre turned into a vast Covid-19 testing facility. And with high occupancy in planes, social distancing becomes impossible to enforce. RYANAIR boss Michael O’Leary has warned the low-budget carrier won’t fly if it is required to keep the middle seat empty. And even though airlines like Ryanair, Lufthansa (and, tentatively, British Airways) have set the goal of restarting flights by June and July, the logistics of resuming operations won’t be easy. Please refresh and try again. Ryanair only use Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Flying with an empty middle seat has been proposed for in-flight social distancing (file picture). Doy says that there are various checks that airlines will need to conduct, ranging from short-term checks, overnight checks and more major checks. Another shows the empty seats covered in stains, with crumbs and other food surrounding them. Aviointeriors says the Janus seat will 'ensure the maximum isolation between passengers seated next to each other'. The Dublin-based low cost airline has instead backed the introduction of mandatory temperature checks and masks for passengers and crew when flights resume. Ryanair said on Tuesday that its passengers would be required to ask for permission to use the toilets to avoid queuing on the budget airline's planes. Irish low-cost airline Ryanair will not resume its flights when travel restrictions are lifted if authorities force them to leave the middle seats empty, the company’s CEO said. 'With this objective in mind, we have studied new solutions that take into account social distancing among passengers sitting in economy class, where there is a condition of higher density, but with characteristics that remain applicable even in the lower density classes such as premium economy or business class. Flybe: Europe's largest regional airline collapsed on March 5 after months on the brink, triggering 2,400 job losses and left around 15,000 passengers stranded across the UK and Europe. But even if airlines are able to get their fleet off the ground and ready to fly by July, willingness to board planes may still be low. British Airways: The International Airlines Group, which also includes Iberia and Aer Lingus, said on March 16 that there would be a 75 per cent reduction in passenger capacity for two months, with boss Willie Walsh admitting there was 'no guarantee that many European airlines would survive'. The Janus seat concept that has been designed by aircraft interior design firm Aviointeriors, The Janus concept would see the middle seat of a row placed in a reverse position, which Aviointeriors says will 'ensure maximum isolation between passengers', The Janus takes its inspiration from the ancient two-faced Roman god. And Mr O'Leary, 59, told the Financial Times: 'We can't make money on 66 per cent load factors. You will hear from us shortly. RYANAIR changed the rules for its hand luggage back in August last year, with the new requirements coming into effect just three months later. In your inbox every weekday at 12pm UK time. While passengers seated on the side seats, aisle and fuselage, continue to face in the direction of travel, the passenger sitting in the centre is facing backwards. Michael O’Leary said "idiotic" social distancing rules will … Glassafe, meanwhile, is described as a 'kit-level solution' that can be installed on existing aircraft seats. Even if their planes were completely empty, companies would not be legally required to refund passengers the cost of their ticket if their flight were to go ahead, in spite of government guidance. A spokesman for Aviointeriors says: 'All national authorities worldwide are trying to block this pandemic through a series of actions and recommendations and we want to contribute with our ideas and proposals in the interests of the whole community. As the aviation industry faces an unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, major companies have already triggered plans to restart their operations again to avoid collapse. The designs are by Italian firm Aviointeriors, which has released renderings of both concepts. Mr Valean said she expected social distancing requirements to remain in place for as long as there is no treatment or vaccine for the infection. Photos taken on a flight heading from Ibiza to Manchester show empty … A Ryanair spokesman said: 'For any cancelled flight, Ryanair is giving customers all of the options set out under EU regulations, including refunds.'. And in any circumstance, he asks an important question: “Would you want to fly in an aircraft if somebody was coughing next to you?”, Alex Lee is a writer for WIRED. The International Air Transport Association, which represents 290 airlines, has estimated that the pandemic could cost carriers a combined total of £254billion. Logistical hurdles of flying aside, people don't buy a plane ticket for the pleasure of flying, they buy it as a means to an end. In Canada, regulators started requiring passengers on Monday to wear a non-medical mask or face covering during the boarding process and flights. Irish budget airline Ryanair is ordering more Boeing 737 Max jets just weeks before the plane returns to flying after two crashes that killed 346 people. For those who decide to take flights, it is going to be a very different experience. Peter Imbong. Ryanair Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Leary and Boeing Chief Executive Officer David Calhoun discuss Ryanair’s order for 75 Boeing Max 737 jets, U.S. and European Union aircraft … Aviointeriors says: 'Glassafe is made of transparent material to make the entire cabin harmonious and aesthetically light', An aerial view of the Glassafe concept. Alongside face masks, Ryanair will implement measures that reduce the amount of contact passengers have with the aircraft and one another. Ryanair: More than 90 per cent of the Irish-based airline's planes are now grounded, with the rest of the aircraft providing repatriation and rescue flights. So [the airlines], knowing that they are going to need a smaller fleet, have obviously taken the decision to retire the less efficient aircraft early,” says Doy. 2 Future records only include new-built aircraft close to delivery and expected second-hand deliveries. Nicole Kobie, By This is a huge leap up from the 30 skeleton flights it is running at the moment. A number of Jet2 flights turned around mid-air last month while travelling to Spain when a lockdown was announced in the country. "If they've been mothballed into long term storage, then the requirements for getting those aircraft back into the air will be much more drawn out,” he says. 'It is made of easy cleaning and safe hygienic materials. Landing Weight: 65.317 kg: 144.000 lbs It added: 'Glassafe is made of transparent material to make the entire cabin harmonious and aesthetically light, but perfectly fulfilling the objective of creating an isolated volume around the passenger. Passengers will be able to buy pre-packaged snacks and drinks using contactless payments and must ask flight attendants to use the toilet. 3,600 under age 60. Transport Why is Ryanair taking to the skies when there’s nowhere to fly? By resuming travel, airline companies will avoid adding to their already costly bill of customer refunds for cancelled flights. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has insisted his planes will not fly with an empty middle seat as he blasted ‘idiotic’ in-flight social distancing measures. The airline is under immense pressure at the moment and is facing pre-tax losses … “That’s despite the fact that the passengers cannot travel to the airport – they’d be breaking the ban against non-essential travel in the UK – and they can’t enter many of the countries where [Wizz Air] will be going to,” he explains. Arise Sir Lewis! Ryanair only use Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 'Each Janus seat is surrounded on three sides by a high shield that prevents the breath propagation to occupants of adjacent seats. Please refer to the current fleet list to see each aircraft's individual age. Parked and temporarily out of service Ryanair aircraft at London Stansted Airport on April 15. Ryanair's CEO says the airline will not fly if it is forced to keep middle seats empty to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Only supported aircraft types that are active with this airline are included in the calculations. 👉 Follow WIRED on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Boy, 12, with nut allergy and severe asthma dies suddenly on Christmas Day 'from anaphylactic shock' as he... Transgender warehouse worker, 55, sues FedEx over claims she was forced out by bullying colleagues. You can opt out at any time or find out more by reading our cookie policy. Mr O'Leary also said Ryanair has already told the Irish government that if it imposes the measures, then 'either the government pays for the middle seat or we won't fly'. ', Breathe easy: The Glassafe concept, which Aviointeriors describes as a 'kit-level solution'. He tweets from @1AlexL, 📖 How coronavirus kills, one organ at a time, 🏘️ Failing care homes are the real coronavirus scandal, ❓ The UK's job retention furlough scheme, explained. With hotels, bars and beaches empty, Mr O’Leary thinks that European regulators will be reluctant to push more “anti-aircraft” environmental taxes. But he said EU law is clear that passengers are entitled to refunds, but they will probably not be payable in the short term. Some US airlines have implemented their own measures including blocking middle seats, pausing automatic upgrades and changing the boarding process. Loganair will go to the government despite being told by Finance Minister Rishi Sunak last week that airlines should exhaust all other options for funding, before asking for help. Look to the Philippines, around 30,000 per day just four weeks later. Irish travel industry expert Eoghan Corry said every airline is currently offering a voucher, rather than a refund. Aviointeriors says: 'We have worked and we will continue to develop products specifically designed to make the travels of the near-future post-virus ever safer', 'Glassafe is supplied in various executions with fixing systems to the seat that allow easy installation and removal.'. This site uses cookies to improve your experience and deliver personalised advertising. Sorry, you have entered an invalid email. “Their hope is that they can stimulate the market," says Doy. EXCLUSIVE: The bride wore a mantilla! Despite the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's advice against all non-essential travel abroad, on May 1, Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air became the first European carrier to resume flights, initially by flying a limited number of flights out of Luton, starting with ten per cent of its overall fleet. Last week easyJet said it expects to keep middle seats empty once travel restrictions are lifted in a move which could mean higher ticket prices for passengers. Delta Air Lines said this week it would like to see consistency among government requirements to help streamline processes for passengers and employees. During the 14-day quarantine, the arriving passenger is required to wear an electronic bracelet which connects to a smartphone app and tracks their whereabouts to ensure that they remain in isolation. Despite the headline-seeking sting in the soundbite's tail, it's notable that O'Leary's airline is going further than some governments in insisting upon masks. The airline operates on a business model of frequent flights, low costs and a very high 'load factor', which is the industry word for a plane's proportion of taken seats. The Luton-based carrier said parking all of its planes 'removes significant cost' as the aviation industry struggles to cope with a collapse in demand. How to up Your Chances of Flying on an Empty Plane How to up Your Chances of Flying on an Empty Plane ... especially budget airlines in the U.K. like Jet2 and Ryanair… The boss of Ryanair has warned that flights will not resume if the government insists on keeping middle seats empty. Rory Boland, travel editor of consumer rights group Which?, says that Wizz Air is one of the worst examples of an airline avoiding issuing refunds: the company refused to pay passengers back the money for its flights departing from Luton and won’t rebook those flights unless they pay a fee. In most cases, these ghost flights involved the aircraft taking off and then immediately returning to the airport. Once a passenger lands at the airport, they are transported to the conference centre to be tested, and after that are able to quarantine at their home in Hong Kong or at a nearby hotel, repurposed for Covid-19. Gary Doy, senior lecturer in air transport management at Cranfield University, says that if an airline has decided to keep their aircraft maintained and operational, those aircraft can be put into service relatively quickly. This year, the aviation industry is set to lose $252 billion (£207bn), according to the International Air Transport Association; air traffic in Europe fell by up to 90 per cent in April alone. This isn't a woolly 'advisory' but part of a commercial contract: if you fly Ryanair, you mask up. Budget airline Ryanair went even further, announcing that it would be restoring 40 per cent of its flights to their regular schedule from July 1, operating nearly 1,000 flights a day. Currently we have 183 Boeing 737 -800 on order and we have an option for another 100 Boeing 737 MAX 200. She tweeted yesterday: 'All this should be part of those guidelines and probably by mid-May we can put forward this strategy we are working on.'. ': Harry and Meghan turn stomachs with 'dull and preachy' new Archewell... Zara Tindall is pictured for the first time since announcing she's pregnant with her third child - days... From an 'explorer of consciousness' to a poet-cum-rapper: How Harry and Meghan lined up all-star cast... Meghan Markle's reading list! Michael O'Leary told … The drop-off in activity was sharp: data from FlightRadar24 shows commercial flights plummeting from an average of 100,000 flights per day at the beginning of March to around 30,000 per day just four weeks later. In its latest email to passengers, the airline says: 'Over the past months the spread of the Covid-19 virus has caused many EU governments to impose flight and/or travel bans which grounded over 99 per cent of Ryanair's flights.'. Islington tops the list with home values surging 13% - with... Police hunt dog owners after pack of out-of-control animals slaughter 30 sheep in shocking Christmas attack. Thomas Budd, lead academic at the passenger experience laboratory at Cranfield University, says that some airlines are recommending that people don’t check in baggage to avoid an extra touchpoint, while airports have also implemented thermal scanning systems. Ryanair plane seats covered in food and stains were ‘so dirty people refused to sit in them’ ... Another shows the empty seats covered in stains, with crumbs and other food surrounding them. Crew members will wear masks and offer limited services. Loganair: The Scottish regional airline said on March 30 that it expects to ask the Government for a bailout to cope with the impact of the pandemic. The concerning images were taken on June 17 by a passenger named Tash, who does not want her surname used. EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said that measures under consideration would include the wearing of masks and disinfection of planes and airports. Ryanair has been operating flights with empty planes for several days. Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways have led the charge as major airlines plot a return to the skies. Meanwhile Ryanair has been accused of trying to avoid paying refunds for flights cancelled because of the coronavirus. “About 45 per cent of an airline's costs are fuel. Holidays have been cancelled, the skies are empty and thousands of aircraft are grounded at airports across the globe. Ryanair past fleet Aircraft Introduced Retired Notes ATR 42-300: 1989 1991 BAC One-Eleven 500: 1986 1994 Boeing 737-200: 1994 2005 Replaced by 737-800. Last week, FAA administrator Steve Dickson said the agency and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention planned to update guidance for flight crews amid concerns from pilots, but regulators are not mandating new safety requirements. Flybe's owners, a consortium including Virgin Atlantic, the Stobart Group and hedge fund firm Cyrus Capital, blamed coronavirus for hastening the ailing airline's collapse. On the plane, lining up for toilets will be forbidden, though access to bathrooms can be made on request. Pulling a fleet of aircraft together, which have been out of action for a long while, takes time. It has also urged the Government to offer carriers emergency credit facilities worth up to £7.5billion. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. The option is available with the shield in opaque material or with different degrees of transparency. Amit Katwala, By It included vouchers and warned anyone looking for a refund it would not be processed until have the Covid-19 crisis lifts before applications will even be considered. Ryanair said … Face masks on planes, for example, are already becoming mandatory on many airlines. Disclaimer. ', Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary (pictured in Brussels on March 3) has insisted his planes will not fly with an empty middle seat. William Ralston. This exercise means that the aircraft doesn’t have to undergo extensive maintenance checks in order for the airline to get them up and running at short notice. While airlines like British Airways have grounded their fleet and put them into long-term storage, Ryanair has been running ghost flights with no passengers on them to keep its fleet operational. At th e moment we have over 300 aircraft in operation and the average age of our planes is 5.5 years. Formula One star Hamilton to be knighted after Boris Johnson bends rules to place... Where did property prices rise most this year? These aircraft were already due to be retired due to their efficiency rating, but this has been sped up. It is unclear if the Washington-based Federal Aviation Administration has the authority to compel passengers or flight crews to wear face coverings on airplanes. Dublin-based Ryanair said it would add 75 more planes to an existing order for Boeing's 737 Max airplanes, a giant vote of confidence as Boeing seeks to revive sales of its best-selling plane after a 20-month safety ban following two fatal crashes. Ryanair told some passengers that claims would be processed after the Covid-19 pandemic had cleared. 'Where was your moral compass when blood soaked coke was up your nose?' Meanwhile, all of the pilots that have been furloughed or temporarily put on leave will need to undergo training again before they can take off. Get WIRED Daily, your no-nonsense briefing on all the biggest stories in technology, business and science. The 'Janus' takes its inspiration from the ancient two-faced Roman god and has a reversed centre seat, while the 'Glassafe' concept sees each seat fitted with a 'hood'. It would see screens installed around the top of the seats, which Aviointeriors says would make sitting in 'close proximity safer'. Flybe operated up to 50 UK routes, accounting for 40 per cent of all domestic flights, and was used by 9.5million passengers a year. The final mouth-watering... Britain's fattest towns: Wigan, Stoke and Nottingham are named among UK's obesity hotspots - but how does... Archie's first podcast: Meghan and Harry feature 19-month-old son in star-studded first Spotify episode and... What would Granny say? Empty Weight: 41.413 kg: 91.300 lbs: max. Ryanair is among those facing a damaging financial year after flying 152million people last year - a 9 per cent rise on 2018 which made it Europe's biggest airline. She took to a Ryanair complaints group on Saturday [July 18] to share the awful experience, saying: “So much for cleaning your planes for Covid. KLM, Air France and Wizz Air have all already enforced strict face mask policies. “They fly because they want to do something at the destination,” Doy says. After suspension of almost all its flights Ryanair keeps using a big part of its fleet for operating short flights on a regular basis. "Their business model – certainly Ryanair – is based on large numbers of people flying low fares, But that means high load factors." He claimed proposals to force planes to fly under capacity when the coronavirus travel restrictions end were 'mad,' unaffordable and 'hopelessly ineffective'. Under European Union rules, airlines must offer passengers their cash back if flights are cancelled, but Ryanair is offering passengers vouchers for flights when the lockdown ends. Ryanair, warned, meanwhile, that flying would not be the same as it once was. The comments below have not been moderated. The COVID-19 VACCINE: The jab of hope for YOU and the rest of the UK. These checks can be conducted in a simulator. 'This is in order to avoid or minimize contacts and interactions via air between passenger and passenger, so as to reduce the probability of contamination by viruses or other. Kirstie Allsopp SLAMS... Russia admits its Covid death toll is the world's third worst at 186,000 - THREE times higher than it... Nearly half a million people in Wuhan - 10 times the original figure - might have had coronavirus new... What happened to the NHS' army of volunteers? He claimed proposals to force planes to fly under capacity when the coronavirus travel restrictions end were ‘mad,’ unaffordable and ‘hopelessly ineffective’. The European Commission will present rules next month for the safe reopening of air travel when lockdowns end, such as social distancing in airports and planes. The move would see its single-aisle jets cut from around 180 seats to 120. Thirty-five of the aircraft sampled had been flown in a loop around the airport, while the remaining 11 had been put into service at least once every four days. Welcome to WIRED UK. By "The main challenge that I see for airports and airlines right now is a very similar one to the challenge we faced after September 11, which is passengers are scared," says Max Hirsh, professor of airport infrastructure at the University of Hong Kong. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary The boss of Ryanair says the airline will not resume flights if it has to keep middle seats empty to fight Covid-19, calling the idea "idiotic". However Mr O'Leary has estimated that normal passenger levels will have returned by summer next year, as long as a vaccine for Covid-19 can be developed. easyJet: The airline with 9,000 UK-based staff including 4,000 cabin crew grounded its entire fleet of 344 planes on March 30. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has insisted his planes will not fly with an empty middle seat as he blasted 'idiotic' in-flight social distancing measures. 'We have worked and we will continue to develop products specifically designed to make the travels of the near-future post-virus ever safer and in accordance with the new requirements for passengers who will have to share the spaces available for the duration of the transport.'. Aviointeriors explained: 'Each passenger has their own space isolated from others, even from people who walk through the aisle. Cash will no longer be accepted. Print + digital, only £19 for a year. While airlines are not required to leave seats empty to facilitate social distancing, face coverings are mandatory for staff and passengers both at the airport and on board the plane… Thank You. Ryanair has said it will continue its flights in and out of Spain as normal, despite the UK government's decision to impose a 14-day quarantine on travellers arriving from the country. E-bikes and e-scooters will transform our cities in 2021, How Shenzhen turned all its 16,000 buses fully electric, Covid-19 has seen a great surge in new city bike lanes, Los Angeles is paving roads with recycled waste plastic, There’s a big data gap when it comes to vaccines and pregnancy, Lilium's flying taxi is finally here. He also hopes that Ryanair will pick up business from rivals that could collapse during the crisis, which has already claimed the likes of Flybe and Virgin Australia. Duchess praises Matt Haig's Notes On A Nervous Planet and Reasons To Stay... What turned suburban Mr Sensible into a murderous Incredible Hulk? The Lufthansa Group also hopes to run 1,800 weekly roundtrips to 130 destinations by the end of June. A Ryanair passenger says she was disgusted after boarding a 'filthy plane' recently. According to Civil Aviation Authority guidelines, if a pilot is flying a commercial aircraft that will be used to carry passengers, they will need to have successfully conducted three takeoffs and landings within the previous 90 days. This could lead to higher ticket prices as budget airlines rely on filling planes to make short-haul flights profitable. Eight steps to unlocking YOUR sixth sense: Psychic who predicted Covid insists anyone can predict the future... Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19. This streamlined fleet helps us to keep costs down and safety standards up. At th e moment we have over 300 aircraft in operation and the average age of our planes is 5.5 years. Prince Harry drops Queen's RP accent for 'slurring Estuary English' and adopts a... 'Someone pass the sick bucket! Takeoff Weight: 78.245 kg: 172.500 lbs: max. Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways have led the charge as major airlines plot a return to the skies. Even if you do that, the middle seat doesn't deliver any social distancing, so it's kind of an idiotic idea that doesn't achieve anything anyway. The Association for British Travel Agents estimates that the industry as a whole has racked up a £7bn refund bill. 1 The average fleet age is based on our own calculations and may differ from other figures.
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