Puerto Rico's Tourism Takes Lead In Standards To Safeguard Visitors' Health And Safety

The Government of Puerto Rico rolls out a health and safety certification program for tourism related businesses as the destination aims to become a gold standard of modern sanitation

Recognizing the need for new standards of cleaning, disinfection, hygiene, and the competitive advantage that the implementation of additional measures provide for the Island as a tourist destination, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) announced today the creation of a program to grant a gold-star validation seal to tourism-related businesses. This certification (or badge) will be granted to those who are implementing the highest health and safety measures. The program has been developed using the most rigorous standards, best practice cases have been used as reference, as well as guides and recommendations from the agencies and organizations that specialize on the subject.

The objective of the program is to elevate Puerto Rico's tourism industry and position it as the new gold standard in destination health and safety. The PRTC aims to increase consumer confidence in Puerto Rico as a destination that is prepared and has adjusted to the current situation. The program's rollout began  May 4^th. By the time the tourism commerce reopens and the destination is ready to welcome visitors again, , it is expected that the vast majority of tourism-related businesses will be practicing these measures and safeguarding everyone's safety.

The two-level system was designed based on the guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 established by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization, the OSHA 3990 report, the Puerto Rico Department of Health guidelines, Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced's executive orders, and high-caliber programs such as Singapore's Safety Seal and the National Restaurant Association. The first level is a Tourism Health and Safety Operational Guide, a practical guidance with the mandatory measures to safeguard the health of employees, visitors and local patrons. The second one is the Health and Safety Seal; a certification program for all endorsed tourism industry businesses that meet or have exceeded the implementation and on-going execution of the established measures.

"These operating guides and the certification program are vital for the reopening of the travel and tourism sector in Puerto Rico and are important factors that will place us in a highly competitive position once the travel and tourism market reopens. When making their travel plans, consumers will consider the destinations best prepared to provide them with the necessary measures and resources to protect their health. Collective participation in its implementation, both by companies and customers, will be key to adopting the necessary personal habits and practicing social responsibility. This is the best way to offer our local public and tourists the safety and hygiene standards that they expect and deserve," said the executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Carla Campos.

The guide includes measures such as: creation of wellness checkpoints for employees and guests, new check-in process and completion of the Travel Declaration and Contact Tracing Form, safe and social distancing measures guidance per type of business and activity; restrictions and additional health measures for self-service food systems: augmented cleaning and disinfecting protocols; instructions regarding hand-sanitizing stations; and training on the use of PPE – Personal Protection Equipment.

These new standards of hygiene will be applicable to all tourism businesses island wide including hotels, resorts, paradores, posadas, bed & breakfasts, small inns, guesthouses, time-shared properties, short-term rentals, casinos, tour operators, tourist transportation, experiences management, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and attractions.

SOURCE Puerto Rico Tourism Company

UK 'To Bring In 14-day Quarantine' For Air Passengers

UK airlines say they have been told the government will bring in a 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving in the UK from any country apart from the Republic of Ireland in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The new restriction is expected to take effect at the end of May.

Industry body Airlines UK said the policy needed "a credible exit plan" and should be reviewed weekly.

People arriving in the UK would have to self-isolate at a private residence.

Government and aviation sources told BBC News that the quarantine would mean people might be expected to provide an address when they arrive at the border.

It is not clear how long the new travel restriction would be in place and whether non-UK residents would be allowed to stay in rented private accommodation.

"We need to see the details of what they are proposing", said Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, EasyJet and other UK-based airlines, in a statement.

It is not clear whether there are plans to quarantine people arriving to the UK via other modes of transport. Eurostar and P&O ferries declined to comment, while other firms have not yet responded to the BBC's queries.

Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst is expected to clarify the policy to airline and airport representatives in a conference call scheduled for Sunday morning.

A spokeswoman for Belfast International Airport said it had written to the government to clarify what the plans were - adding that the airport had not been consulted on the move.

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said Labour had been asking the government for weeks to clarify "mixed messages" about what people should do on arrival to the UK.

"People have been brought back in relatively large numbers and many of them are telling us that they have no information or advice given out about what they should be doing when they get home," she said.

UK airports suggested that a quarantine "would not only have a devastating impact on the UK aviation industry, but also on the wider economy".

Karen Dee from the Airport Operators Association, which represents most UK airports, said the measure should be applied "on a selective basis following the science" and "the economic impact on key sectors should be mitigated".

BBC News understands that key workers such as lorry drivers who transport goods and people working in the shipping industry would be exempt.

A Heathrow spokesman said any measures agreed must be medically effective, meet public expectations and be deliverable by airports.

"We will continue to do everything we can to support the government in tackling the health crisis whilst keeping vital trading routes open for British businesses in every corner of the UK," he added.

Last Sunday, Andrew Marr asked the transport secretary whether the UK would introduce a quarantine on people arriving in the UK.

Grant Shapps said he was "actively looking at these issues, right now, so that when we have infection rates within the country under control we're not importing".

He said it was important "that we do ensure that the sacrifices, in a sense, social distancing, that we're asking the British people to make are matched by anyone who comes to this country".

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We do not comment on leaks. The focus remains on staying at home to protect the NHS and save lives."

If a quarantine is needed now, some will question why it was not necessary weeks ago.

Tens of thousands of people have flown into the UK during the pandemic, although the government says the vast majority were returning home.

By Tom Burridge

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-52594023

Disneyland Hotels Set New Summer Reservations Date

Barry King/WireImage

Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

The move comes the same week The Walt Disney Co. announced it would be reopening its first theme park since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The Disneyland Resort has set a new date for guests to begin making reservations at park hotels. 

The theme park's website was updated May 6, notifying would-be guests (and those who needed to change their plans since the park's closure) that reservations are available beginning July 1. 

The previous note on the website said the resort would be closed "until further notice," which has also been modified to read, "a reopening date has not been identified" and "we will continue to carefully evaluate the complex and fluid situation." 

The update comes the same week The Walt Disney Co. announced it would be reopening its first theme park since the coronavirus pandemic forced the company to shutter all parks around the globe. 

However, on Monday, Shanghai Disneyland Park will reopen; the sprawling Chinese destination was the first of the company's parks to go idle in late January because of the pandemic. 

For Shanghai, some of the new measures and procedures in place include: All guests are required to pre-purchase admission tickets, no walk-ups. Once in the park, all guests (and employees) must wear a mask, except when dining. Guests will also have their temperature checked before entry. Ride queues (wait lines), restaurants and ride vehicles will be structured to promote social distancing, among other measures. 

On a Tuesday earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said it was too soon to talk about the Anaheim and Orlando parks again welcoming guests. Yet Shanghai will be a blueprint as to how the domestic parks could operate. A Disneyland union president told The Hollywood Reporter he agreed with that notion, saying he saw Shanghai as a "test of what works and doesn't work, though some practices may not be applicable here in the U.S." 

"I also noted that attendance limits will play a role as certain revenue creation per site appears necessary to reopen," Workers United Local 50 president Christopher Duarte told THR. 

The Disney CEO made it clear during the Tuesday earnings call that no park would be reopened if it was forecasted to lose money, stating he believed there is plenty of "pent-up" demand. "If we open up 50 percent less (capacity), we won't have trouble selling that," said Chapek. "We will staff accordingly for whatever that level will be."

When it opens its doors Monday, the Shanghai park will allow fewer than 24,000 visitors a day, which is 30 percent of its 80,000 capacity. Under government restrictions, capacity must currently be capped at 30 percent, but Chapek noted that the park will allow fewer to start, and after a few weeks it would be increased to the 24,000-guest level.

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com

Best Frequent Flyer and Hotel Guest Programs Chosen Among 3.6 Million Ballots In The 2020 Freddie Awards

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards was named frequent flyer Program of the Year for the fifth straight year while Marriott Bonvoy took top honors among hotel programs in the Americas region for the eleventh consecutive year and Chase Bank wins the popular credit card category with their Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card

- In a virtual presentation, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards was named frequent flyer Program of the Year and Marriott Bonvoy took the same top honors among hotel programs in the Freddie Awards results released on Thursday April 30th. Internationally, the Norwegian Reward program and Accor Live Limitless took top honors in the Europe/Africa region and Virgin Australia Velocity and Accor Live Limitless took top honors in the Middle East/Asia Oceania region.

More than 3.6 million ballots were cast worldwide by members of travel loyalty programs to determine the winners in recognizing the best of travel loyalty programs for the 30th year. The Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards win marks the fifth straight year of the Program of the Year honor while Marriott's loyalty program has now won the Program of the Year honor for eleven consecutive years. Also impressive is the nine consecutive years streak that American Airlines AAdvantage has won Best Elite Program in the Americas.

In the popular credit card category, Chase Bank was a big winner by issuing the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier credit card in the Americas. American Express Membership Rewards took top honors in the Middle East/Asia Oceania region while Norwegian Reward won in the Europe/Africa region with their credit card issued by Bank Norwegian. All three are repeat winners of this honor.

Also announced were the 210 Award for programs whose value vote rating was trending higher (rising stars). Winners in this category included Air Canada Aeroplan and Accor Live Limitless in the Americas region, TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go and Choice Privileges in the Europe/Africa region and Air Arabia Air Rewards and Wyndham Rewards in the Middle East/Asia Oceania region.

The Freddie Awards represent excellence among travel loyalty programs around the globe and rate the best programs in six categories: Program of the Year, Best Promotion, Best Redemption Ability, Best Customer Service, Best Elite Program and Best Loyalty Credit Card. Voters had six weeks to vote and were permitted to vote for programs in one of three global regions: Americas, Europe/Africa and Middle East/Asia Oceania. Voting also was available in nine different languages.

The awards were announced by Freddie Awards Founder, Randy Petersen during a virtual presentation.

"For this 30th year of the Freddie Awards, we are delighted to once again allow frequent flyers throughout the world to voice their choice of frequent travel programs that truly rise up in excellence," Petersen commented. "This is not an elitist view of these programs but rather the 'best' are determined by the votes of those who spend a great deal of their life on the road and in the air."

The Freddie Awards honor quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the overall merits of each program as reflected in a "Value Vote." Value Voting asks the voter to assign a number between one and three to the program for which he or she votes. To be eligible to win a Freddie Award, however, a program must receive at least two percent of the category vote.

The Freddie Awards are named after the late Sir Freddie Laker, who attracted fame (and a knighthood in the United Kingdom) for pioneering low-cost air travel across the Atlantic in the 1970s.

Sponsors of the virtual presentation included iSeatz—loyalty tech solutions, luggage maker Knack and BoardingArea—required reading for frequent flyers. The Freddie Awards were custom designed by Society Awards.

The results were presented virtually and may be viewed online at freddieawards.com/.

THIS YEAR'S WINNERS ARE:
AMERICAS
Airline Category
Program of the Year — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards
Best Elite Program — American Airlines - AAdvantage
Best Promotion — Avianca - LifeMiles 
Best Customer Service — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards 
Best Redemption Ability — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards 
210 AWARD — Air Canada - Aeroplan

Hotel Category
Program of the Year — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Elite Program — Hyatt - World of Hyatt
Best Promotion — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Customer Service — MGM - M life Rewards
Best Redemption Ability — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
210 AWARD — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 

Credit Card Category
Best Loyalty Credit Card — Southwest Airlines - Rapid Rewards from Chase Bank

EUROPE/AFRICA
Airline Category
Program of the Year — Norwegian Air – Norwegian Reward
Best Elite Program — Aeroflot – Aeroflot Bonus
Best Promotion — Norwegian Air – Norwegian Reward
Best Customer Service — Norwegian Air – Norwegian Reward
Best Redemption Ability — TAP Air Portugal - Miles&Go
210 AWARD — TAP Air Portugal - Miles&Go

Hotel Category
Program of the Year — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Elite Program — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless
Best Promotion — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Customer Service — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Redemption Ability — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
210 AWARD — Choice Hotels – Choice Privileges

Credit Card Category
Best Affinity Credit Card — Norwegian Reward - Bank Norwegian Norwegian Card

MIDDLE EAST/ASIA OCEANIA
Airline Category
Program of the Year — Virgin Australia – Velocity  
Best Elite Program — Virgin Australia – Velocity 
Best Promotion — Virgin Australia – Velocity  
Best Customer Service — Virgin Australia – Velocity  
Best Redemption Ability — Virgin Australia – Velocity 
210 AWARD — AirArabia - AirRewards

Hotel Category
Program of the Year — Accor Hotels – Accor Live Limitless 
Best Elite Program — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Promotion — Marriott Hotels - Marriott Bonvoy
Best Customer Service — ITC Hotels - Club ITC 
Best Redemption Ability — ITC Hotels - Club ITC
210 AWARD — Wyndham Hotels – Wyndham Rewards

Credit Card Category
Best Affinity Credit Card — American Express Membership Rewards

SOURCE Freddie Awards

South African Wine Harvest Report 2020: Great Season, Remarkable Wines

Wines of South Africa excited to showcase the exceptional new vintage

South Africa's 2020 wine grape crop will bring exceptional wines to consumers, following favorable conditions throughout the season. This according to the South African wine industry's annual Wine Harvest Report 2020.

"Although it's always important to take our diversity over 10 wine grape growing regions into account, the industry had a very good season overall, which we believe will bring great quality wines to consumers," says Conrad Schutte, consultation service manager of the wine industry's representative body Vinpro.

The 2020 wine grape crop is estimated at 1,487,991 tons, according to the latest estimate of industry body SAWIS (South African Wine Industry Information & Systems) on April 24, 2020. It is 8.2% larger than the 2019 harvest.

Weather conditions were favorable in general and the bunch numbers looked promising early in the season, but windy conditions during the set and sensitive berry growth stages resulted in smaller berries and a lighter crop. The season was also characterized by great variation between and even within the same vineyard blocks in areas that experienced dry conditions.

The Stellenbosch, Swartland, Cape South Coast, Paarl and Breedekloof regions all harvested more wine grapes than in 2019, with the Olifants River region almost returning to its normal production levels after being one of the regions hardest hit by the recent drought. The Klein Karoo region still struggles with the ongoing drought, also experienced in certain parts of the Robertson region, while frost damage resulted in great crop losses in the Northern Cape.

The COVID-19 scurry

Although the harvesting season kicked off around two weeks earlier than usual, the unexpected announcement of the COVID-19 lockdown, in effect from March 26, 2020, created a scurry among many producers to harvest the last grapes of the season and complete winemaking processes in cellars. Wine-related activities were initially prohibited, but Government made a last-minute concession which allowed for the harvesting and storage activities essential to prevent the wastage of primary agricultural goods during the lockdown. At the time, around 44,092 tons still needed to be harvested.

"With uncertainties during the announcement of the lockdown some producers decided to harvest the grapes without prejudice just to get it to the cellar, while others waited for optimal ripeness to ensure exceptional quality," Conrad says.

Wine quality exceptional

"We are excited about the exceptional wines that will flow from the 2020 wine grape crop, with Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay leading the pack," Conrad says. "The early cultivars showed very good acidity, and the color and tannin analyses in the red wines promise full wines with concentrated flavor profiles."

The 2020 wine harvest – including juice and concentrate for non-alcoholic purposes, wine for brandy and distilling wine – is expected to amount to 276,377 gallons at an average recovery of 204.7 gallons per ton of grapes.

Ready to take our wines to the market

Following restrictions on both local sales and wine exports during South Africa's COVID-19 lockdown, the industry was relieved that Government allowed for the export of alcoholic products from May 1, 2020, including transport to ports and airports, as well as related activities to prepare wine for exports such as bottling and labeling.

"As an industry we are grateful and relieved to be able to resume exports. This finally enables us to showcase our exceptional new 2020 vintage wines to trade, media and consumers around the world," comments Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa.

She continues, "We would like to thank all of our international networks of agents, importers and friends who have never wavered in their support of our wine and our people, despite the challenges we've faced as an industry."

South Africa is the ninth biggest wine producer worldwide and produces about 3.3% of the world's wine. The wine industry contributes $1.95 billion to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs nearly 300,000 people.

2019/20 Growing season

Most regions experienced a better post-harvest period than previous years. The leaves fell around the same time or later than usual, vines were healthier and producers had access to post-harvest irrigation water.

Sufficient cold units were accumulated during the winter to break dormancy, while rainfall varied across regions but was mostly below average.

With spring came mostly favorable conditions, which contributed to a somewhat earlier but even budbreak. The early growing season was especially known for good, homogenous shoot growth.

During summer, temperatures were moderate during the ripening period, with the absence of characteristic heat peaks. These conditions particularly bode well for the flavor retention in the grapes. Rainfall during the ripening period relieved pressure on water resources in some regions, while it resulted in a surge in diseases (downy mildew, sour rot and botrytis) and necessitated proper weed control in other areas.

Overview of regions:

Breedekloof
Slightly larger crop than in 2019, mainly driven by the occurrence of wind during berry growth, which had a negative effect on flowering and set.

Cape South Coast
Better yields than the previous season, thanks to favorable climatic conditions, the implementation of Guyot pruning systems, utilization of chemicals to break dormancy and amendments to fertilization programs.

Klein Karoo
Yet another small crop due to the ongoing drought and a shrinking area under vines.

Northern Cape
Lower than expected production, due to severe frost experienced at the end of October in the lower lying areas east of Upington.

Olifants River
A great year as vines are recovering well following the drought and the region had better water supplies than during the previous season.

Paarl
A better crop than in 2019, owing to beneficial post-harvest conditions, sufficient water for irrigation and moderate temperatures during ripening.

Robertson
Smaller yields due to water shortages in certain parts of the region, as well as smaller berries caused by wind during set, a decline in new plantings and the occurrence of botrytis and sour rot following rain in January.

Stellenbosch
A bigger wine grape crop than in 2019, thanks to good reserves being accumulated in the post-harvest period, rain during critical berry growth stages and moderate climate throughout the growing season.

Swartland
Bigger yields than in 2019, characterized by good bunch figures thanks to good post-harvest and winter conditions. Soil profiles were also supplemented well through late winter rainfall.

Worcester
Varying yields throughout the region, with producers recording a somewhat larger crop than in 2019.

See https://vinpro.co.za/ for the full harvest report per region.

About Wines of South Africa
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is the organization representing all South African producers of wine who export their products. WOSA, which was established in its current form in 1999, has over 500 exporters on its database, comprising all the major South African wine exporters. It is constituted as a not-for-profit company and is totally independent of any producer, wholesaling company or government department but is recognized by the South African Export Council. WOSA's mandate is to promote the export of all South African wines in key international markets including the United States.

SOURCE Wines of South Africa

Southwest Airlines Changes Boarding Process: What You Need To Know

Southwest Airlines has announced some changes to its usual boarding process in order to better help keep proper social distancing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Travelers will now be boarding the airplanes in groups of 10, with people only lining up on one side of the Southwest’s boarding poles. This will help customers “spread out,” according to the airline.

That’s a big difference than what we’ve seen in the past with as many as 60 people — 30 on each side of the boarding pole — huddled together and waiting to board.

The airline is also asking passengers to download their mobile boarding pass prior to leaving home in order to limit the amount of exchanges they make with others and to plan on arriving at the airport earlier than usual to allow for new check-in and security processes

.Southwest recommends eating before traveling, since drinks and snacks will no longer be served onboard in order to limit contact with others.

Southwest is also one of many airlines that will begin requiring passengers to wear face masks while traveling.

These are just a few of the measures that the airline has implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Others include “using electrostatic anti-microbial spray treatments, cleaning aircraft between each flight using a disinfectant with the same grade that’s used in hospitals and restaurants, implementing physical-distancing measures, limiting the number of passengers onboard,” according to the Southwest website.

Source: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/05/01/southwest-airlines-changes-boarding-process-what-you-need-to-know/

Major US Airlines To Require Passengers To Wear Face Masks, Taking JetBlue's Lead

(AP) — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines said Thursday they will soon require passengers to cover their faces during flights, following the lead of JetBlue Airways.

The move comes as airlines big and small contemplate how to comply with social-distancing recommendations in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Most flights are nearly empty these days — air travel is down 95% from a year ago, and the average domestic flight has 17 passengers, according to industry figures.

But recently passengers have posted photos on social media of crowded planes with many passengers who weren’t covering their faces despite the recommendation by federal health officials to wear a mask when in public to prevent spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

In some cases, airlines created the crowds by canceling other flights and packing passengers onto fewer planes.

During a three-hour layover at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Vince Warburton noticed a crowd gathering in the gate area before his American Airlines flight to Los Angeles.

“People were laughing at the fact that (gate agents) were encouraging us to social-distance while boarding the plane, and there were so many people in line,” said the 32-year-old video engineer, who was commuting to a job.

The laughter didn’t last long.

“When we got on the plane, we were all sitting right next to each other,” said Warburton, who was flying on a discount ticket and was assigned a middle seat in a full row. ”People were very uneasy. I was very uncomfortable.”

Airline executives say they know that customers must feel safe before they’ll venture from sheltering at home to getting on a plane, and they have taken some steps.

This week, JetBlue became the first U.S. airline to announce it will require passengers to wear face coverings during flights, starting next week.

“Wearing a face covering isn’t about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting those around you,” said JetBlue President Joanna Geraghty. “This is the new flying etiquette.

Earlier Thursday, Frontier Airlines said that it would begin requiring masks May 8. Delta and United announced they would make masks mandatory starting Monday.

Until now, those airlines said they were encouraging passengers to wear masks, and several required their own flight attendants to wear them.

Just hours before American Airlines announced it will require passengers to cover up, airline CEO Doug Parker said he wanted to see how the rule worked at JetBlue, and expressed reservations about enforcing a mandatory policy.

“We want to be careful about putting our team in the position of being police on that,” Parker told The Associated Press. “What we’re hoping instead is that virtually all customers will choose for their own protection and out of respect for others on the airplane to wear a mask in flight.”

The Association of Flight Attendants, which says 300 of its members have contracted COVID-19, and some Democrats in Congress are pushing the Trump administration to require that passengers wear masks.

Air travel is “a major vector for COVID-19,” said Sens. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he pressed the head of the Federal Aviation Administration to require face coverings for all passengers and crew, and to require airlines to take “

In a statement, the FAA said Administrator Stephen Dickson expects airlines to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has recommended that everyone wear face coverings when in public.

Beyond masks, several airlines say they are blocking some or all middle seats to create social distancing. That is possible now on most flights but will become more difficult when passengers begin returning in bigger numbers — airlines would forfeit revenue if they block seats then. It is also more difficult on smaller regional jets; passengers might be seated near each other to balance the plane’s load.

Princess Johnson, a bus driver in Chicago, said she felt claustrophobic on a recent flight to Indianapolis because the few passengers had to sit in one section of the plane.

“If somebody sneezed, we all would have been sick,” said Johnson, who added that she was one of only a few passengers wearing a mask.

Mike Ritchie said just about everybody on his American Airlines flight home from Orlando, Florida, wore a mask.

“Good flight. Not so many people,” he said. “The flight attendants made sure everybody was spaced well, and I would fly again if I had to.”

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said this week that his airline is considering filling flights no more than two-thirds full so that middle seats can always be empty. He said steps like those might be necessary to make passengers feel safe, but he was clear he views them as temporary steps.

“I don’t accept that forever more people are going to stay six feet apart and wear masks for the rest of our lives,” Kelly said.

Almost every airline says it is stepping up cleaning of planes, sometimes including the use of misting machines to spray anti-viral chemicals inside the cabin. They are also trying to persuade passengers that air inside the cabin is safe to breathe.

Cabin air on most jetliners is a mix of fresh air from the outside and recirculated air that is passed through high-efficiency or HEPA filters designed to trap most airborne particles.

___

By DAVID KOENIG

Teresa Crawford in Chicago contributed to this report.