News Update: Canadians will not fly without social distancing on board

According to The Canadian Press (July 7, 2020), seventy-two per cent of Canadians surveyed say they’re not comfortable flying since decisions by several airlines to relax their own in-flight physical-distancing requirements.

Eighty-five per cent of those surveyed also suggested that they’re not getting on planes any time soon, telling pollsters they have no plans to travel outside the country by the end of the year.

Courtesy flickr/wikicommons

Two days ago, the CBC carried the story of a man walking off a flight from Halifax to St John’s before takeoff after realizing many passengers on the flight would need to self-isolate upon arrival as they had come from all over Canada as required by health protocols. While everyone wore masks on the plane and adhered to physical distancing rules leading up to boarding, Mr Brian Power the passenger said: “But once you’re on a sold-out Dash 8, you’re sitting on each other’s laps.” He asked the flight attendants and gate staff about being in close contact with people who would need to self-isolate and said he was met with an “indifferent shrug.” So, he got off the plane.

Indeed, it does not make much sense to insist on social distancing pre-boarding but not board within a confined space over a longer period of time. It smacks of half-measures.