Airports Are Facing a New Reality

The coronavirus has caused a momentous shift in the air travel industry on par with 9/11. As passenger traffic has reduced to a trickle in the wake of the public’s fears of infection, major carriers like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have grounded hundreds of planes and many international airlines have suspended service entirely. Now airports are grappling with how to respond to this health crisis – and future threats of infectious disease – in order to save the industry and gain back passenger trust.

The COVID-19 situation is unique in many ways, but it’s similar to what we saw after the terror attacks in 2001. As we emerge from this pandemic, business travelers will likely start traveling quickly and with minimal hesitation. Leisure travelers, on the other hand, may be more reluctant to fly. All passengers will require assurances that the experience from curb to aircraft seat is safe. The question is, what do those assurances look like? After 9/11 security measures were visible to passengers and served as validation that the industry took their safety seriously. In a post-COVID-19 world, we have to recognize that the threat is less visible, and that it requires a different response.

In the context of the coronavirus outbreak and the rapid decline in ridership, Congress recently passed a package of emergency funding that will help usher the aviation industry through this crisis. Gensler’s Aviation practice leaders are actively examining how the stimulus package opens the door for a seismic shift in how airlines and airports can partner to enhance passenger safety and wellness.

With that in mind, we’ve begun to consider how design can help airports simultaneously secure their facilities and provide new measures to help protect the traveling public from the spread of virus