Protocolo de segurança no transporte aéreo de passageiros: uma análise de sua evolução durante a pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

The present work is instigated to research how the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with airline safety protocols. It is a fact that airborne diseases have a high rate of transmission in closed environments such as on an airplane. However, the mitigating actions of the airlines were fundamental for the low transmissibility of the virus at these points. The research is encouraged to search which practices were adopted by airlines at each moment of the Covid-19 pandemic and which ones persisted, being considered, therefore, more effective in the view of decision makers of these organizations. To this end, a bibliographic research is used to identify similarities and differences between the practices adopted by airlines during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a complementary way, the research analyzes the practices that have lasted. More specifically, a Covid-19 timeline was created in order to analyze the associations between the stages of contagion of the disease and changes in protocols; the technologies incorporated into air passenger safety protocols during the pandemic were mapped; and it was attested which measures of air passenger safety protocols lasted during the phases of evolution of the pandemic. The research verified the wide use of face masks, air filters known as HEPA, screening devices (thermal meter, viral tests), social distancing when boarding and disembarking aircraft in order to increase the efficiency of aircraft on the ground at reducing the time for passengers to disembark by 25% and, finally, the need for proof of vaccination (an efficient measure against viruses). So, the research contributes academically with the comparison of data extracted from the research, with the creation of a timeline of protocol evolution, the identification of technologies incorporated in the air sector due to the pandemic and improvement of the processes in the air sector in what concerns the safety and confidence of passengers in flying.