Now I’m told that there are, and I hope I’ve got this right, ‘middle seats’, in an area of the plane called ‘Economy Class’?
You see I’ve been socially conscious way before this crisis.
Always trying to keep my distance by going to the area of the plane where I’m 2m from my neighbour.
But ‘we’re all in this together’, to reprise a crisis cri de couer.
My social distancing
Empty space
And EasyJet www.EasyJet.com are talking about making Economy a bit more like Business…
By initially emptying the middle seats when we get back on planes.
Our old friend Michael O’Leary at Ryanair www.ryanair.com jumps in here to pooh-pooh such a notion.
He calls it ‘hopelessly ineffective’ on safety and price.
The challenges
Which brings us to how airline carriers will draw us back into the skies.
When more and more of us will have been let go from work, have less money.
Fun for all the family: At Turkish Airlines HQ
And airplanes and airports will impose even tighter restrictions on us.
While we’ll all be more fearful of being around each other at all and particularly in the close proximity of an airplane.
A true partner
Well, our airlines have been quick to send out circulars reminding us of how valued our custom is.
Now for those of us Travel professionals who have benefited from a partnership with them.
Open door policy www.united.com
And seen first hand how they work… Turkish delight: Airline that has it all and www.turkishairlines.com.
This is the time that we stand by them… In defence of… air travel.
A prophet from the past
And while we try to find precedents on every level for how our predecessors dealt with crises there is good news.
Eating by myself: In Business Class
Airlines have in the past reacted to a plummeting demand by rolling out bumper offers.
And here I take solace from a Business Traveller interview with former BA executive Richard Tams, of Tailwind Advisory…
Ireland’s call: Aer Lingus www.aerlingus.com
He takes us back to the aftermath of the Gulf War when confidence in air travel was low because of fear of terrorism.
Read his thoughts here and… https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=y7PLXuFAFLE
MEET YOU IN THE SKIES