Covid-19; Impact on the aviation industry

Noxegon wrote: »

I think there are also some people that take the view that if you can't beat them, join them. I've been ridiculously careful over the last few months – and continue to be – yet when I see footage of the carry-on in central Dublin over the weekend it makes me wonder why I'm bothering.

Just a thought.

The more people who become potential vectors for the virus by taking that approach, the faster it can spread, the more likely it will overwhelm the systems we have in place to contain it. Just as 1 person can spread the virus to 2 and it suddenly explodes exponentially, if 1 person being selfish and travelling against the advice convinces 2 others to do the same...

The argument of "but other people are doing it, why shouldn't I" is pretty easily explained when you look at how viruses spread. Each potential vector is statistically significant.

And to be perfectly honest, what are we being asked to do? Not go on holiday abroad. At a macro level the risk:reward ratio of following the advice is extraordinary. But here we are and all of a sudden the yellow pack epidemiologists are pulp psychiatrists talking about the severe health effects of not being able to get down to the costa del sol. Yeah, my granny never left the country and lived well into her 90s after ten kids raised in a terraced 3-bed. The rain soaked holidays to Wexford didn't kill her, they won't kill you.

Noxegon wrote: »

I don't disagree with anything you're saying.

What I am saying is that "if others are not doing it, then why should I" is a real thing.

The government's fence-sitting on this is reprehensible IMHO. "Don't fly, but if you choose not to the financial hit is on you" is a poor way to convince the chattering classes.

I reckon if they put in a firm ban, they'll get stung for the full cost of it - insurers, airlines, punters, will be looking for all their money back off Johnny Taxpayer. Just to think about how it would work here. They're trying to discourage without getting caught on the hook (bar, of course, paying everyone's wages).

I know a good few people that have holidays booked and paid for, The majority are waiting to see this green list of countries that they can travel too.
A lot of them like myself had holidays paid for earlier during the lockdown, We managed to rebook fir next year.
The issue I'm hearing now is that they are willing to stay at home this year but the likes of FR will not let them rebook for another time,And that they will loose out on the cost of the flights which for a family is a considerable amount of money.
As for the initial outbreK of the virus here and the HSE/HBS response was to plan for the worse, And believe me they did snr mgmt in my company had meetings with the HSE &DOD.
I'm a volunteer for one of the statuary emergency services and we have been stood down from active on call from this week, We went on call from March some of the temporary installations we set up have been taking down.
As for the pubs in Dublin City over the weekend what would you expect, Juat like videos and pics of Temple bar before the pubs closed.
The pubs I was in over the weekend had you wait at the main entrance before being brought to your seat, It was well run.
Maybe by next week we should see if their is a spike in cases with pubs/restaurants opened after two weeks.

Bit of a long read but this is what to expect going to the Canaries

Lanzarote Information
POST COVID LOCKDOWN – WHAT LANZAROTE IS LIKE FOR TOURISTS
Post Covid
MIKENEWS
We’re being asked questions about post covid Lanzarote all the time, so we’ve put all the information together for you in one place.

Arrival
There are three steps on arrival:



1/ Your temperature will be taken – either via infra red scanners or hand held devices.

2/ You’ll need to present a QR code which is issued on completion of a form prior to travel.

3/ You will be observed by medical staff.

You must complete The FCS Health form prior to travel, which declares your health situation 48 hours before travel and gives authorities here your contact details. Once completed, you will have a QR code, which you can present at the health desk on arrival here.

You’ll be expected to wear a mask inside the terminal.

You’ll go through temperature scanners to see if you have a fever, and you will be observed by medical staff.

If any of the three steps are a cause of concern, you’ll be asked to move into an isolation area, where you will be given a test for Covid 19. Assuming you test negative, you will be allowed on your way. If you test positive, you will be transported to isolation accommodation that has been set up for the purpose.

Note there are no luggage trolleys available at the airport, and most of the shops and bars in the terminal are closed currently.

Buses, Taxis & Car Hire
Buses are currently running to about 50% of their normal timetable. Masks must be worn on public transport.

Taxis are running normally, and are thoroughly and regularly cleaned.

If you are collecting a hire car, again, it will have been thoroughly cleaned and sanitised prior to collection. Currently, most hire companies are only offering airport, rather than in resort, collection and drop off.

For buses, you will need the exact change to pay for your fare.

Mask Wearing
The rule here is that you must wear a mask when you cannot socially distance to 1.5 metres. In practice, that means in shops and on public transport, or anywhere else you cannot keep 1.5 metres from other people.

The wearing of masks in shops is compulsory. Do not try to enter a shop without wearing one.



But you should ensure you have a mask with you at all times just in case you stumble into a busy street or area.

Hotels
Hotels have strict rules for hygiene, and everything is set up to maintain social distancing of 1.5 metres, in pools, sunbathing areas, bars, restaurants and communal areas.

Currently, many hotels are still closed. These are the ones we have opening dates for: Which Hotels Are Open?

Villas and apartments
Owners should follow the hygiene rules and prepare for your arrival, leaving everything spotlessly clean and sanitised, bedding clean, and a supply of alcohol gel in the property.

Bars and restaurants
Tables will be kept 1.5 metres apart, so when eating and drinking, masks are not necessary. Staff will wear masks at all times. When using the rest rooms, or passing through to your table, you should wear a mask. Rest rooms are limited to one person per 4M2, so staff may ask you to wait to use them.

As there are limited numbers in restaurants, and currently not all are open, it makes sense to book in advance.

Payment in most places is preferred, and in some places only, by card – contactless is the best choice.

Menus are not allowed to be re-used, so will either be disposable, or in most cases, via QR code. Have a code scanner on your phone, and it will open the menu for you.

Beaches
Separate areas for sunbeds and umbrellas will be set up, with 1.5 metres between those from different households. Collectors will be responsible for disinfecting beds between users, who are asked to place towels on the sunbeds and disinfect their hands before using them.

Life guards are responsible for limiting overall numbers on beaches if necessary.

Supermarkets
Some will take your temperature on arrival, most will ask you to put on gloves and all require masks. There are no limits on how many members of a family can go in at any one time.

The bottom line
In most cases you can rely on the staff and signage to tell you what you need to do, but that’s no substitute for using some common sense and taking responsibility for your own health and that of people around you.

Give other people as much space as you can
Wear a mask if you think you might get within 1.5 metres of other people
Use hand sanitiser often and whenever you see it
Wash your hands thoroughly as often as you can
Report any symptoms as soon as you detect them
Lanzarote is currently Covid free – let’s all work together to keep it that way.

Also read Which Hotels are Opening
Casa Juan Ricardo is a spacious 3 bedroom villa in a sought after area of Playa Blanca and close to all the amenities of the resor.

Nijmegen wrote: »

Why are continued restrictions not sustainable, though? Cargo is travelling. Essential workers are travelling. What our public health officials are saying is, "Don't take non essential travel" like holidays. Why is that position unsustainable? Unpalatable, I get, but unsustainable?

And I think that Ireland is lagging behind other countries by a few weeks. And I don't think there's anything much wrong with that to be honest. We benefited from being a few weeks behind at the start of all of this (by luck, probably) and the same could be said of now.

Let someone else be among the first wave to hit the beaches on the proverbial D-Day, get the glory if it goes well, and you stroll up the beach then afterward.

If visiting family and friends abroad is deemed essential, then that makes it easier to stick with the non-essential travel even longer.

But there are a significant percentage of people in Europe employed directly or indirectly in tourism. In some regions, it is their primary industry. A long-term restriction on travel, which arguably is unnecessary, would cause major economic problems.

bk wrote: »

Except they tried that in Italy back in March, first locking down just a few towns and then the wider area around Milan. It didn't work and it spread all across Italy and Europe...

You keep using this point but its factually incorrect. The disease was in Italy as of December 2019 and spreading throughout the continent at the point of March 2020!

Jack1985 wrote: »

Car crash interview, the fact this ape has a voice at cabinet spouting off statements without any facts is truly shocking. Absoloutely no idea the percentages of those who book direct, versus through package holidays.

The arrogance, I don't need numbers as I worked in tourism and I know,, if he wasn't in government he would be crying out for refunds.

Surely not many did book from March on. Maybe people book their summer holidays December/January

Implicit in all these messages and opinions that one should not travel is that somehow all these other countries (primarily EU in this instance) are doing everything wrong and we know so much better. I don’t buy it.

A prolonged, unscientific approach to travel will have consequences far beyond the aviation industry in this country. But it will leave deep scars on aviation itself. The politicians better be ready to deal with it....