Can you catch a virus in an airplane’s cabin air?

With more flights being reinstated in WA and the thought of our football players heading off interstate, how safe is it to get on a plane with COVID-19 still in the air?

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin have all confirmed to Travel that all of their planes have cabin air-filtration systems equipped with HEPA filters that filter out particles and viruses with 99.97 per cent efficiency.

The Australian airlines follow the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) guidelines for restoring air travel following COVID-19. The guidelines include; physical distancing where feasible (not in aircraft cabins), the wearing of face masks, routine sanitation and disinfection, health screening, contact tracing, passenger health declaration forms and testing (if and when rapid and reliable testing becomes available).

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin all have contactless check-in with hand sanitising stations at departure and arrival gates. There’s increased cleaning of high contact areas both inside the aircraft and at airport terminals and lounges and once aboard the aircraft, passengers are provided with face masks, and sanitising wipes to wipe armrests, trays and seatbelts. Wearing a face mask is not mandatory but passengers are encouraged to in the interest of everyone’s peace of mind. The in-flight service has been reduced to minimise any one-on-one contact.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) which represents 290 airlines comprising 82 per cent of global air traffic, says the risk of transmission of COVID-19 while aboard an aircraft is low.

Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director-general and chief executive says the ICAO measures will give travellers and crew the confidence they need to fly again but adds “IATA are committed to working with our partners to continuously improve these measures as medical science, technology and the pandemic evolve”.

HEPA filters ... what are they and how do they work?

Most airlines use High Efficiency Particulate Air filters (HEPA) and the air inside an aircraft is typically changed every three minutes. HEPA filters are also used in hospital operating theatres and can filter out particles and viruses with 99.97 per cent efficiency according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Virtually all viruses and bacteria are removed; even the most difficult particles in the range of 0.1 to 0.3 microns are filtered out.

HEPA filters do need to be changed regularly and each manufacturer has its own maintenance guidelines. As a general rule, when used in a commercial setting they should be checked every six months and changed every year but most airlines replace cabin air filters at regular intervals to fit in with routine scheduled maintenance periods, as long as these intervals do not exceed filter manufacturers’ recommendations.

Cabin air quality

The air in an aircraft cabin has about 12 per cent humidity which is drier than most deserts and the dryness is generally what most travellers complain about.

While the air is clean, the dryness is bad for sinuses and can break down mucous barriers, making it easier to catch what bugs might be present. But generally it’s not what passengers are breathing that makes them sick. It’s what they are touching: toilet door handles, contaminated trays and armrests, etc, so be aware of your own personal hygiene. Wash your hands frequently and use sanitising wipes to clean high contact surfaces.

The Boeing 787 has the healthiest air of any commercial plane thanks to a unique circulation system that pumps dry air through the lining between the cabin walls and exterior skin.

Watch Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce explain their Fly Well program.