IATA research indicates that there have been just 44 cases of Covid-19 reported since the beginning of 2020 in which transmission is thought to have been associated with a flight journey (inclusive of confirmed, probable and potential cases). It says that over the same period some 1.2 billion passengers have travelled, equating to one case for every 27 million travellers.

The organisation¡¯s medical advisor Dr David Powell said, ¡°The risk of a passenger contracting Covid-19 while onboard appears very low. We recognise that this may be an underestimate. We think these figures are extremely reassuring. Furthermore, the vast majority of published cases occurred before the wearing of face coverings inflight became widespread.¡±

IATA has released its data following the recent publication of peer-reviewed research by Freedman and Wilder-Smith in the?Journal of Travel Medicine. In that study, the authors said ¡°the absence of large numbers of confirmed and published in-flight transmissions of [the Covid virus] is encouraging but is not definitive evidence that fliers are safe¡­At present, based on circumstantial data, strict use of masks appears to be protective.¡±

A number of aircraft manufacturers have since carried out detailed tests looking at the potential exposure to Covid on board planes.

A Boeing study found that ¡°passengers sitting next to one another on an airplane is the same as standing more than seven feet (or two metres) apart in a typical building environment.¡±?

The study looked at various scenarios involving coughing passengers, either with or without a mask, sitting in various seats including the middle one and with the air vents on and off.?

A similar study for Airbus found that the potential exposure on a plane is lower than in a non-aircraft environment, such as an office or classroom.

Bruno Fargeon, leader of the Airbus Keep Trust in Air Travel Initiative, said: ¡°The way that air circulates, is filtered and replaced on airplanes creates an absolutely unique environment in which you have just as much protection being seated side-by-side as you would standing six feet apart on the ground.¡±

Alexandre de Juniac, IATA¡¯s director general and CEO, said, ¡°There is no single silver-bullet measure that will enable us to live and travel safely in the age of Covid-19. But the combination of measures that are being put in place is reassuring travellers the world over that Covid-19 has not defeated their freedom to fly.

¡°Nothing is completely risk-free. But with just 44 published cases of potential inflight Covid-19 transmission among 1.2 billion travellers, the risk of contracting the virus on board appears to be in the same category as being struck by lightning.¡±