Passengers could face four hour waits to board planes while medical checks are carried out when the lockdown ends, it is claimed.
The aviation industry has been heavily hit by the pandemic, with airlines forced to ground their fleets and warning of mass redundancies.
Even w services do resume, it could take five years to get back to normal, which customers forced to endure “uncomfortable conditions”, an expert warned.
Customers will be required to wear masks, it is believed, and most planes will only be 20% full – raising questions about commercial viability.
It comes as British Airways said it may have to make 12,000 redundant, and Virgin Atlantic appealed for a £500 million government bailout.
Andrew Charlton, managing director of Aviation Advocacy told The Times : “Even if it starts raining vaccines tonight, we are still looking at two years at least to get back to levels seen before the outbreak.
“And it is probably going to be more like five years.
“There will be fewer flights, fewer seats available, prices will go up and there will be very uncomfortable conditions because of the demand to wear personal protective equipment and maintain social distancing.”
The number of Brits using their cars has risen to the highest level since the country went into lockdown, it was confirmed last night.
NHS England director Yvonne Doyle yesterday described the rise as “slightly worrying”, and called on Brits to stay at home.
The government has said it will not consider lifting the lockdown until they can be certain there won’t be a second peak.
If this begins to happen, strict restrictions will be put back in place again.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said new. contact tracing measures will be the key to easing the measures currently in place.
He had pledged that by the end of the month, 100,000 tests would be carried out each day. (The Mirror)
