Southwest Cabin

Airlines remain in a difficult position when it pertains to the messaging around the security of flying. Southwest Airlines’ CEO appears to think it’s completely safe to fly again, presuming as to state that airplanes are as safe of an environment as anywhere.

Southwest Airlines CEO says it’s safe to fly

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly appeared on “Face the Nation” yesterday, and the interview started with a rather tough concern– “is it safe to fly once again?”

Kelly’s response was an unquestionable yes, and he supplied the following reasoning:

  • His answer to the question was “it is,” with no doubt
  • Southwest Airlines is doing whatever they can to encourage individuals to come back and fly
  • Southwest is doing whatever they can to tidy airplanes, they’re requiring employees and clients to wear masks, they’re deep cleaning aircrafts every night, they’re utilizing electrostatic misters, they’re exercising social distancing, and they’re not reserving airplanes complete
  • When asked just how much threat there is to flying, he said “I don’t believe the threat on an airplane is any greater danger than anywhere else, it’s as safe of an environment as you’re going to find.”

That last statement is quite something.

If you want to watch the full interview, you can do so here:

How Southwest Airlines sees demand recuperating

When inquired about how need will recover, Kelly stated:

  • He believes the airline company saw the bottom in April, and that each week after the very first week of April has gotten successively much better
  • May will be better than April, and while June won’t be an excellent month, it will ideally be much better than May
  • Southwest is seeing an excellent variety of future bookings into next year

What message should airlines be sending out now?

Airlines are in a predicament here in terms of the expectations they should develop when it pertains to flying. It goes without stating that airline companies being successful counts on people feeling comfortable flying.

Perceptions around flying appear especially complicated right now:

  • A lot of us have actually been social distancing for about 2 months
  • There are still great deals of brand-new COVID-19 cases in the US
  • At the exact same time, in some areas we’re beginning to see organisations reopen in a phased way, though it’s far from a go back to normal throughout the board

There’s no rejecting that airline companies are moving in the ideal instructions when it concerns producing the perception that it’s safe to fly, by adding some social distancing guidelines, needing guests to wear masks, and so on

Nevertheless, is it truly reasonable to say that a plane is as safe of an environment as anywhere? If by “anywhere” you imply a full train or perhaps even a complete restaurant, I might see that. For many of us the alternative environment is the inside of our homes.

Beyond that, the declaration barely takes into account the risk related to the overall travel process, from getting to & from the airport, being in the airport, and so on

To be clear, I do not disagree with Kelly’s basic sentiment here (though maybe it’s a stretch to state a plane is as safe as anywhere)– I do think airline companies are relocating the best instructions, and it may be safe( ish) if safety measures are taken, as part of a steady reopening of the economy.

However I think it’s also important to call out that there’s no such thing as social distancing on an airplane, and that’s a mistaken belief that many individuals have

Bottom line

Southwest Airlines’ CEO states it’s safe to fly once again, and likewise states that an aircraft is as safe of an environment as any. The steps that airlines are taking to secure clients are a move in the best direction, but personally I’m not ready to get on an airplane right now … however hopefully soon( ish)?

What do you make of Kelly’s comments?

Ben (Fortunate)

About Ben (Lucky)

Ben Schlappig (aka Lucky) is a travel expert, blogger, and devoted points collector.
He travels about 400,000 miles a year, primarily utilizing miles and points to boost his very first class experiences.
He chronicles his experiences, together with market news, here at One Mile at a Time.

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