COVID-19 Outbreak (Update: More than 2.9M cases and 132,313 deaths in US)

Saint_Ward said
A few quick thoughts.

1. It's why their cleaning procedures are important.
2. More important is making people wear masks and consider suspending beverage services.
3. More important is screening people who might be ill and just not letting them fly.
4. Aircraft Air is recirculated with fresh air from outside, and through HEPA filters. The air is fully replaced about 15 times an hour, or every 4 minutes.

https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/how-stale-is-the-recycled-air-in-a-plane/

I'm glad you pointed out the air changes per hour from outside air - this seems to be a misconception that is held by a lot of people. For comparison a typical office HVAC system does about 2 air changes per hour. So, outside of the proximity to people, there is no enhanced risk on airplane travel of airbourne transmission with proper precautions/screening.

All that being said - there is no conceivable way that the airline industry isn't changed forever in significant ways by this. I fully expect airplane tickets to go up significantly for a good while. Between the screening measures that will likely have to be in place, PPE, and reduced capacity requirements - I just don't see how we don't see air travel become more and more expensive. Already they've reduced somewhere around 3 quarters of all flights, and are suspending more and more flights. Small hubs will be all but gone with very limited options, along with further consolidation of airlines I'd imagine. None of this is changing soon as far as I can see.

For me personally it sucks, b/c my parents are aging and I try and get back home at least 2x per year, but with a family of 5 flying in from CA that is already an expensive endeavor. Now I wonder what I can afford.....it going to suck big time.