The world is freaking out about the coronavirus outbreak. Businesses and economies are being impacted on all sides, and perhaps no bigger impact is being felt than by the travel industry in particular, the airline industry where travelers are canceling their plans and airlines are canceling flights left and right.
Earlier today, United Airlines released a statement about the coronavirus in the form of an email blast to all their customers discussing what the company is doing to stay updated on the spread of covid-19, preparations and precautions when flying
We are in the business of serving people and in the midst of this coronavirus outbreak it’s important that we give you as much flexibility as possible when planning your next trip. But it’s also important that we give you as much information as possible about the procedures we follow to clean our aircraft and maintain a sanitary environment once we’re in the air.
Our teams are in daily contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), federal agencies and other global health organizations to share the most up-to-the-minute information to ensure the actions we’re taking are comprehensive and appropriate.
United Airlines Allows You to Change Your Flight for Free
Before you fly To give you the greatest flexibility, when you book any flight with us now through March 31, you can change it for free over the next 12 months – any ticket, any fare type, any destination.
United Prepared to Respond with Medical Staff
On the ground Our team of in-house medical experts and industrial hygienists oversee our aircraft cleaning procedures to ensure they meet or exceed all CDC guidelines. Hard surfaces such as lavatories, tray tables, window shades and armrests are thoroughly wiped down with a high-grade disinfectant and multi-purpose cleaner. And when we are advised by the CDC of a person who has traveled on board and is potentially exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, that aircraft is taken out of service and sent through a full decontamination process that includes our standard cleaning procedures plus washing ceilings and overhead bins and scrubbing the interior.
United’s State of the Art Circulation Systems
In the air Our aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art circulation systems, similar to those found in hospitals, which use a high-efficiency (HEPA) filter to circulate the air and remove more than 99% of airborne particles. We’re also adjusting our inflight service to limit person-to-person contamination. This includes handing beverages directly to customers instead of allowing customers to touch a tray and ensuring all flight attendants wear gloves during service.
That’s great because the airports don’t seem to be doing much even if you’re arriving stateside from a coronavirus hot zone. More information on what the airline is doing in regards to their coronavirus efforts can be found on their dedicated United Hub to coronavirus.
