Delta Air Lines says it is now sanitizing its airplane cabins before every flight.
Atlanta-based Delta began using electrostatic sprayers in February to sanitize planes with a fogging technique before flights from Asia to the United States.
Since then, it has been expanding the spray-cleaning to more flights across its system. As of this week, it is using the procedure before every flight.
The sprayers “electrically charge and disperse liquid disinfectant in a fine mist that clings to surfaces such as seats, seatback screens, armrests, tray tables, doors, lavatories and galleys,” Delta says.
Cleaning crews also use disinfectant to wipe down areas of the cabin.
It's part of an array of protocols airlines have rolled out in an effort to assure travelers that they are taking precautions to make it safer to fly amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Delta is restarting some routes it had suspended due to COVID-19, but passenger volumes nationally are still down more than 90%.
The airline says it is blocking off middle seats and certain other seats on planes to allow for social distancing.
Delta is also among the airlines that now requires employees and passengers to wear masks.
The Transportation Security Administration announced Thursday that its employees are now required to wear masks or other facial protection. For passengers, TSA is encouraging but not requiring facial coverings.
Other airlines have announced additional measures. Frontier Airlines announced it will screen passengers' temperatures before boarding, starting June 1. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be allowed to board.
Frontier’s CEO Barry Biffle believes passengers should be screened as they enter an airport and that TSA and airport authorities “may be working to lay that groundwork,” according to the airline. “In the meantime, Frontier intends to conduct its own temperature screenings until such a plan is put in place.”
At a Senate commerce committee hearing this week, American Association of Airport Executives CEO Todd Hauptli said airports of the future will be different.
“There will be thermal cameras in place,” as well as Plexiglass and physical distancing, he said.
“There will be a lot of changes,” Hauptli said. “It will be a different travel experience.” He added that those new measures will cost billions of dollars.
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