Buzz
For countless Americans and travelers worldwide, the thrill of booking a flight has shifted to anxiety. Spending hours packed into an airplane cabin with dozens of strangers feels more like a health risk, especially with the ongoing coronavirus threat.
Experts agree that airplane travel comes with risks, largely due to close quarters. However, the air quality might be much better than you'd expect.
As William J. McGee explains in a feature for Condé Nast Traveler, many aircraft are equipped with advanced air purification systems, utilizing high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that eliminate 99.97% of airborne contaminants, including viruses. (Although not every airline is equipped with HEPA systems; some regional carriers may lack this feature.) Fresh air is pumped in from above and exits beneath the window seats. Roughly 60% of the air is fresh, while the remaining 40% is filtered and constantly recirculated.
Could this affect how coronavirus or other pathogens spread? Theoretically, it could. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organizations warn that no air filtration system can completely eliminate the risks of being seated close to someone infected. It's very possible that their germs will reach you before the air filtration system can filter them out. Additionally, air filtration doesn’t help when travelers are standing close together in boarding lines.
Viruses aren’t the only air quality issue on planes. Fumes from engine oil, hydraulic fluids, exhaust, and other sources can seep into the cabin, and the smell of pesticide treatments might linger as well.
The takeaway? If you find yourself in a confined space with strangers, an airplane cabin may be one of the safer options. But factors such as nearby infected passengers, mask usage, and seating proximity make it impossible to guarantee safety. If you must fly, wearing a mask and maintaining as much distance as possible from others is your best approach.
