Aviation: An unwitting vector in the global pandemic

Infrastructure epidemiology: A unique discipline to tackle the crisis

We have combined our aviation expertise, through our work on many of the world’s biggest airport projects, with our health services expertise, where we have 20 years’ experience working on infectious diseases and epidemiology. This enables us to look at the building blocks of disease mitigation and how they apply to aviation settings. Using this lens of infrastructure epidemiology – unique in our industry – we are able to define key goals to reduce the spread of the virus.

The industry can help get the world moving while reducing the spread of Covid-19.

Like it or not, the aviation industry accelerated the global spread of Covid-19. Without air travel the virus would have been limited to a localised epidemic –still of concern, but at least a manageable outbreak.

Many recommend getting back to ‘business as usual’ –with some modifications. However, this is not enough as it doesn’t deal with the root causes of the pandemic or provide science-led remedies. It risks a second lockdown – which many industry players would struggle to survive.

As the unwitting vector in this global pandemic, the aviation industry must play an active role in reducing the further spread of the virus. It can do this through effective interventions which enable travel, while reducing the risk of a second wave of infection and the devastating impact this would have on people’s lives and the global economy.

Our vision for the industry

The journey through the airport should minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19. Ideally, the risk would be no greater than it would be if doing any normal day-to-day activity where others are present. Our core goals are:

1.

The risk of a traveller’s journey through the airport should not extend beyond their flight (ie no matter how many flights are handled at an airport, risk to individual travellers should be no greater than if the terminal only handled their flight).

“We have to put health science at the heart of our efforts to kickstart the global economy. Our focus on infrastructure epidemiology helps to reduce risk in air travel, getting people flying again.”

Mike Haigh Executive chair, Mott MacDonald

2.

Airports and airlines should reduce overall risk to passengers by streamlining processes and interventions both on the aircraft and on the ground.

3.

Measures should contribute to a safe working environment by reducing risk to employees.

4. Airports should be equipped to become one of several lines of defence in controlling the spread of serious communicable disease.