Italy's airport lobby says social distancing on planes not sustainable

Toscana Aeroporti SpA

30/04/2020 17:32

MILAN, April 30 (Reuters) - The Italian airport operators
association, Assaeroporti, said on Thursday proposals to keep
some seats empty on planes for social distancing would not be
workable if only imposed by Italy and would make the domestic
sector vulnerable to foreign rivals.
    Italy, which has been hit harder by the coronavirus crisis
than many countries, passed a decree last week stating social
distancing should be applied in airports and on aircraft.
    The European Union's executive is expected to present a set
of rules next month for the safe reopening of air travel when
coronavirus lockdowns draw to an end, including social
distancing in airports and on planes. No rules are yet in place.
    Airlines have raised concerns that such measures could
blight profitability long after travel restrictions end.
    "The social distancing on board of aircraft is not
sustainable," Assaeroporti Vice President Vicar Fulvio Cavalleri
said in a statement, adding that any measure imposed only by
Italy would disrupt traffic to and from the country. 
    Assaeroporti said the number of passengers travelling to and
from Italy fell 85% year on year in March to 2.082 million.  
    The Italian association said safety procedures around the
world were not homogeneous and could cause disadvantages.
    "It is essential that the health prevention measures adopted
in our country within airports and aircraft are consistent with
those defined or in the process of being defined at
international and European level," it said.
    The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which
represents airlines around the world, has estimated the crisis
could cost airlines $314 billion.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2C21QJ
    Alitalia  CAITLA.UL  said it was already respecting social
distancing on flights coming to Italy and would apply them on
domestic flights starting from May 4.
    This would restrict the load factor on planes, a measure
their capacity, to no more than 55%, it said.
    Ryanair  RYA.I  Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has
described proposals for planes to fly with empty middle seats
after coronavirus travel restrictions end as "mad," saying they
would be "hopelessly ineffective" and unaffordable.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N2C361C
    

 (Reporting by Francesca Landini; Editing by Edmund Blair)
 ((francesca.landini@thomsonreuters.com; +39 02 66129437;
Reuters Messaging: reutersitaly.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))