THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic has set the number of Americans traveling via airplane back 60 years, with airports seeing a 96% drop in passengers. Just 94,931 people were screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Wednesday compared to the same day a year ago., when more than 2.2 million passed through airport security. Wednesday was […]
THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic has set the number of Americans traveling via airplane back 60 years, with airports seeing a 96% drop in passengers.
Just 94,931 people were screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Wednesday compared to the same day a year ago., when more than 2.2 million passed through airport security.
Wednesday was the second day in a row that less than 100,000 people flew.
The last time the US averaged that figure was in 1954, AP reports.
The aviation industry was granted a $58 billion aid package by the US government after it revenue plummeted at unprecedented rates following the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It was unlike any quarter in Delta’s history,” CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, even as Delta is burning more than $60 million in cash every day, we know we still haven’t seen the bottom,” he added.
Delta expects its revenue in its second quarter to be down by 90 per cent.
Share prices of major airlines have been slashed in half, reported Axios.
Contract workers have been hard hit by the drop in flights, with those who are being laid off not granted financial relief.
Employees such as cabin cleaners, baggage handlers and security agents, most of who are contracted in, have been made redundant without any renumeration, the Miami Herald reported.
Despite the US’ high rates of coronavirus infection, domestic flights are continuing to operate.
Almost 15,000 people have died in the US, with infections number more than 430,000.
Earlier this month, President Trump said he was considering restriction some domestic air travel.
“It’s a very, very rough decision,” Trump said on April 1 at a press briefing. “We are thinking about hot spots where you go from spot to spot — both hot. We will let you know fairly soon.”
Passenger numbers grew steadily from the 1950s to 2001. There was no commercial air travel in the US for several days after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and people were slow to get back on planes — U.S. passenger traffic didn’t grow again until 2003.
On Wednesday it emerged 100 American Airlines flight attendants had tested positive for the coronavirus.
The airline’s employees have complained of a shortage of protective equipment, saying that on some flights no gloves, wipes or masks are provided.
American Airlines had initially instructed flight attendants not to wear masks during flights, but in recent weeks have allowed them to wear masks, but only if they are neutral in color, according to Business Insider.
Julie Hendrick, the union’s national president said: “We have consistently advocated for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for all of our Flight Attendants to be available on every aircraft, for social distancing between passengers and crew jump seats, for thermal scanning in the airports, and to receive immediate notification of Flight Attendants who have tested positive for the virus.”
The airline would not comment directly on the virus claims.
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