What do we know about transmission on airplanes?
What do we know about transmission on airplanes?
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COVID-19 transmission on airplanes is still being researched. There have been documented cases of COVID-19 transmission on airplanes, with the majority being to people seated within 1-2 rows of an infected person or through contact with airline crew. While traveling on an airplane is not risk-free for COVID-19 transmission, it is generally considered a lower-risk activity due to how air is circulated through a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and mixed with fresh air from outside, and especially when other public health guidelines are followed such as passengers wearing masks or face coverings, passengers maintaining physical distance as much as possible, and disinfecting surfaces between passengers. On crowded flights, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is higher when it may not be possible to avoid sitting within 6 feet of other people, sometimes for several hours. Other COVID-19 transmission risks related to airplane travel include being in proximity to other people when at airport terminals and security lines, being in contact with frequently touched surfaces in places such as public restrooms, and being in proximity to other people during some forms of transport to and from the airport like ridesharing services and public transportation.
COVID-19 transmission on airplanes is still being researched. There have been documented cases of COVID-19 transmission on airplanes, with the majority being to people seated within 1-2 rows of an infected person or through contact with airline crew. While traveling on an airplane is not risk-free for COVID-19 transmission, it is generally considered a lower-risk activity due to how air is circulated through a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and mixed with fresh air from outside, and especially when other public health guidelines are followed such as passengers wearing masks or face coverings, passengers maintaining physical distance as much as possible, and disinfecting surfaces between passengers. On crowded flights, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is higher when it may not be possible to avoid sitting within 6 feet of other people, sometimes for several hours. Other COVID-19 transmission risks related to airplane travel include being in proximity to other people when at airport terminals and security lines, being in contact with frequently touched surfaces in places such as public restrooms, and being in proximity to other people during some forms of transport to and from the airport like ridesharing services and public transportation.
Publication
What our experts say
COVID-19 transmission on airplanes is still being researched. There have been documented cases of COVID-19 transmission on airplanes, with the majority being to people seated within 1-2 rows of an infected person or through contact with airline crew. While traveling on an airplane is not risk-free for COVID-19 transmission, it is generally considered a lower-risk activity due to how air is circulated through a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and mixed with fresh air from outside, and especially when other public health guidelines are followed such as passengers wearing masks or face coverings, passengers maintaining physical distance as much as possible, and disinfecting surfaces between passengers. On crowded flights, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is higher when it may not be possible to avoid sitting within 6 feet of other people, sometimes for several hours. Other COVID-19 transmission risks related to airplane travel include being in proximity to other people when at airport terminals and security lines, being in contact with frequently touched surfaces in places such as public restrooms, and being in proximity to other people during some forms of transport to and from the airport like ridesharing services and public transportation.
COVID-19 transmission on airplanes is still being researched. There have been documented cases of COVID-19 transmission on airplanes, with the majority being to people seated within 1-2 rows of an infected person or through contact with airline crew. While traveling on an airplane is not risk-free for COVID-19 transmission, it is generally considered a lower-risk activity due to how air is circulated through a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and mixed with fresh air from outside, and especially when other public health guidelines are followed such as passengers wearing masks or face coverings, passengers maintaining physical distance as much as possible, and disinfecting surfaces between passengers. On crowded flights, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is higher when it may not be possible to avoid sitting within 6 feet of other people, sometimes for several hours. Other COVID-19 transmission risks related to airplane travel include being in proximity to other people when at airport terminals and security lines, being in contact with frequently touched surfaces in places such as public restrooms, and being in proximity to other people during some forms of transport to and from the airport like ridesharing services and public transportation.
Context and background
While travel on airplanes has declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, air travel can be a necessary form of transport for essential activities. Air travel is also gradually increasing again as economies open up and some places begin to allow more travel within a region, or even between certain regions. People who are doing permissible travel under their state and federal guidelines often wish to compare the risks of different forms of travel, such as driving in a personal or rented vehicle, traveling through ridesharing services, traveling by public bus or train, traveling by ferry, and traveling by airplane. Research is on-going for COVID-19 transmission risks through various forms of transportation, and public health agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been updating their recommendations periodically.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, research was being done on transmission of other infectious diseases during air travel, including respiratory diseases such as flu (influenza) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). Some of these studies, which took place before wearing masks became as widespread, found that transmission typically happens between passengers sitting within 1-2 rows.
While travel on airplanes has declined significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, air travel can be a necessary form of transport for essential activities. Air travel is also gradually increasing again as economies open up and some places begin to allow more travel within a region, or even between certain regions. People who are doing permissible travel under their state and federal guidelines often wish to compare the risks of different forms of travel, such as driving in a personal or rented vehicle, traveling through ridesharing services, traveling by public bus or train, traveling by ferry, and traveling by airplane. Research is on-going for COVID-19 transmission risks through various forms of transportation, and public health agencies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been updating their recommendations periodically.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, research was being done on transmission of other infectious diseases during air travel, including respiratory diseases such as flu (influenza) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). Some of these studies, which took place before wearing masks became as widespread, found that transmission typically happens between passengers sitting within 1-2 rows.
Resources
- Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic (U.S. CDC)
- How safe is air travel? (MIT Medical)
- As flying returns, jetmakers seek to quell fears over cabin air (Reuters)
- Studies trace COVID-19 spread to international flights (University of Minnesota)
- In-Flight Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (U.S. CDC)
- Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission on an International Flight and Among a Tourist Group (JAMA)
- Transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on Aircraft (NEJM)
- Review Article: Influenza Transmission on Aircraft: A Systematic Literature Review (Epidemiology)
- Travel during the COVID-19 pandemic (U.S. CDC)
- How safe is air travel? (MIT Medical)
- As flying returns, jetmakers seek to quell fears over cabin air (Reuters)
- Studies trace COVID-19 spread to international flights (University of Minnesota)
- In-Flight Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (U.S. CDC)
- Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission on an International Flight and Among a Tourist Group (JAMA)
- Transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on Aircraft (NEJM)
- Review Article: Influenza Transmission on Aircraft: A Systematic Literature Review (Epidemiology)
