Is the risk of virus infection on board higher compared to shopping malls and offices?

Although many people prefer to stay at home in light of the Corona virus pandemic, the movement of travel continues, and many people are forced to travel for several reasons.

And if you have to travel by air during the pandemic, here are answers to some common questions that may come to mind before purchasing your travel ticket:

How safe is the air on modern aircraft?

The International Air Transport Association “IATA” said in a statement entitled “Air Quality of the Compartment – The Risk of Communicating Infectious Diseases” through its official website that the risk of infection from a sick person on board is similar to the risk found in confined areas with high density of people, such as buses, metro Tunnels, or movie theater.

The statement pointed out that “the danger on board the aircraft may be less than it is in many confined spaces because modern aircraft include air purification systems equipped with high-efficiency air particle filters.”

High-efficiency air particle filters, also referred to as “HEPA”, have a similar performance as those used to keep the air clean in hospital operating rooms and industrial clean rooms, according to the statement.

The statement pointed out that “these filters are very effective in trapping small microscopic particles such as bacteria and viruses,” noting that these filters are effective in capturing “more than 99%” of microbes carried by the air in the filtered air.

Besides, the cabin air system is designed to operate more efficiently by saving approximately 50% of outdoor air and 50% of filtered and recycled air.

This usually provides 15 to 20 cubic feet of total air supply per minute per person in Economy Class.

The entire air supply is sterile and free of particles, and the air circulation is continuous.

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Is the risk of infection with a virus on board higher than in malls or offices?

Traveling on a plane can be a matter of concern to many people as it is a closed space.

However, when it comes to the risk of contracting a virus on board the aircraft, the IATA website said: “We estimate that the risks are less.”

The International Air Transport Association emphasized that the risks on board the aircraft are “less than in a mall or office environment”, as the air in the compartments on modern aircraft is changed more in comparison to other locations.

However, as in shopping centers or offices, the greatest risk is that a person with a viral infection will remain in the environment, and therefore, maintaining personal hygiene remains the key to avoiding infection.

What can you do to protect yourself from getting infected on board?

And if you decide to continue with your travel plans, and you are still feeling diminished, there are practices that you can do on the plane, which include cleaning hands by washing them regularly with soap, or cleaning them with an alcohol-based disinfectant, besides not touching your face, Especially the areas of the eyes, nose, and mouth, as indicated on the site.