How Boeing will keep planes germ-free in post-coronavirus world

A virus-killing coating on aircraft cabin surfaces and ultraviolet lighting are two of the measures being considered for commercial flights in a post-pandemic world.

Face masks could become a standard part of cabin crew uniforms in a post-pandemic world. Picture: AAP

Boeing is exploring ways to improve the safety of air travel for passengers in the post-pandemic world without having to reduce the number of seats on planes.

Among the steps being considered, are an antimicrobial coating on cabin surfaces and ultraviolet light to kill any lingering bacteria or viruses when passengers disembark.

Director of Boeing commercial aeroplanes product marketing Jim Haas, said a layered approach would need to be adopted to ensure passengers could “board planes without hesitation”.

“We think it’s very important to have a consistent travel experience for passengers which can be enabled by internationally recognised standards,” Mr Haas said.

He said the process would start at airports, where passengers would be required to practice social distancing, wear face masks and submit to temperature checks.

“The goal is to prevent people who have viruses from boarding the aeroplane,” said Mr Haas.

On board, an antimicrobial coating on common use surfaces such as tray tables and armrests would ensure any bacteria or viruses that came into contact with those objects would immediately die.

Hospital grade air filters were already in use on aircraft, removing 99.9 per cent of contaminants from the air in the cabin which was replaced every few minutes.

Between flights, cabin crew could be expected to use ultraviolet “wands” in the cabin, to kill off any lingering bacteria or viruses.

“We are trying to understand right now how much extra time it would take to disinfect the cabins,” said Mr Haas.

“I think it is something that will get faster as people get more proficient at it and our goal is to not impact turn around time any more than it needs to be impacted.”

He said any changes to the seating configuration in aircraft would be up to individual airlines and regulatory authorities.

The International Air Transport Association was pushing for current seating arrangements to be maintained in the post-pandemic world, but for cabin crew and passengers to wear face masks.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said they would review seating on aircraft if requested to do so by the federal health department.

Qantas medical director Dr Ian Hosegood said they were working with industry and government on what the return to flying needed to look like.

“We’re working with government in designing what combination of protections we’ll use, but it will be based on the medical facts and what our customers tell us they need to feel safe,” said Dr Hosegood.

“All the data shows the risk of catching this virus on an aircraft is extremely low.”

Mr Haas said Boeing had not been asked to develop a new “social distancing” seating configuration by any of its customers but it would if demand existed.

“I think it’s too early to tell (if there is demand),” he said.