No middle-seat ban: EU sets out air travel rules

It’s become a symbol of the global travel slump.

Ranks of parked airliners, with engines covered to keep out the grime.

Spain’s remote Teruel airport is one to do a brisk trade in plane storage.

Its arid climate is kind to idle machinery.

The question is when and how to get airlines back in the air.

On Wednesday (May 13) the EU set out its proposals.

It says passengers should wear masks on board.

And says check in and baggage drop off will have to be totally reorganized.

But proposals on social distancing are less strict.

There will be no ban on using middle seats.

Instead the Commission says airlines should use medical-grade air filtering, and limit on-board movements.

That’s in contrast to the U.S., where some airlines are already blocking middle seats.

There’s no doubting the pain for the travel trade.

On Wednesday TUI became the latest big name to plan job cuts.

The German holiday firm says 8,000 posts will go.

Though it echoed earlier comments from Ryanair, saying some leisure travel will resume from July.

TUI will check the temperature of all passengers.

It seems air travel may never quite be the same again.