Written by: Hubert Lawrence
The initial impact of the COVID 19 outbreak on international air travel was staggering. Many countries simply put the brakes on the multi-billion dollar business to protect the health of their citizens and rightly so. However, airlines and airports have found ways to bulletproof their business with measures approved by medical authorities
Estimates vary, but they generally tab the loss suffered by airlines between approximately US100 billion and US400 billion.
From the vantage point of three Jamaican travellers, including 4-time Olympic swimmer Alia Atkinson, those who have to fly can doso with a measure of reassurance. Atkinson had to leave her Florida, USA training base for Budapest, Hungary in time for the International Swimming League which ran for six weeks from October to November.
For someone who has competed in the Athens, Beijing, London and Rio Olympics,the difference was striking. “Very different”, Atkinson emphasized. “We were already accustomed to the ‘new normal’, wearing
the mask, having your hands sanitized and keeping your distance and so, for the most part, it was the same on the plane. The stewardesses were very distant and no one really spoke to you and we were seated really far from each other”, in a November Buzzz chat.
“You never felt like you werein a hazardous situation. The airlines really took it seriously. They really made sure that if you were planning to fly, they did it as safely as they could”, the 50 and 100 metre breast stroke world short course record holder surmised.
Dana*, a Jamaican based sales supervisor at a food manufacturer, had given up her plans for an annual US holiday when COVID hit the headlines. Then her mother had a heart attack. “I just called it George”, she said after her safe return to her St Catherine home. “I’d renew my visa next year and travel next year”, she had resolved.
Suddenly, she had to go. Her travel documents were done online but Dana was a tad apprehensive because of the health risk. “A little bit, yes”, she admitted, “but my mind was focused on the big picture.” The determined daughter highlighted another measure used by the airlines to safeguard health. “I went up on a full flight. I came home on a full flight with the middle seats empty”,
*Names changed to safeguard interviewees privacy.
Author’s notes: HUBERT LAWRENCE, a public relations practitioner and sports fan, has written on communications, love and romance, men’s lifestyles and sport for Buzzz magazine in the past.
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #10 in a store near you.
Follow the Buzzz on Instagram and Facebook
Share this post:
Written by: Hubert Lawrence
The initial impact of the COVID 19 outbreak on international air travel was staggering. Many countries simply put the brakes on the multi-billion dollar business to protect the health of their citizens and rightly so. However, airlines and airports have found ways to bulletproof their business with measures approved by medical authorities
Estimates vary, but they generally tab the loss suffered by airlines between approximately US100 billion and US400 billion.
From the vantage point of three Jamaican travellers, including 4-time Olympic swimmer Alia Atkinson, those who have to fly can doso with a measure of reassurance. Atkinson had to leave her Florida, USA training base for Budapest, Hungary in time for the International Swimming League which ran for six weeks from October to November.
For someone who has competed in the Athens, Beijing, London and Rio Olympics,the difference was striking. “Very different”, Atkinson emphasized. “We were already accustomed to the ‘new normal’, wearing
the mask, having your hands sanitized and keeping your distance and so, for the most part, it was the same on the plane. The stewardesses were very distant and no one really spoke to you and we were seated really far from each other”, in a November Buzzz chat.
“You never felt like you werein a hazardous situation. The airlines really took it seriously. They really made sure that if you were planning to fly, they did it as safely as they could”, the 50 and 100 metre breast stroke world short course record holder surmised.
Dana*, a Jamaican based sales supervisor at a food manufacturer, had given up her plans for an annual US holiday when COVID hit the headlines. Then her mother had a heart attack. “I just called it George”, she said after her safe return to her St Catherine home. “I’d renew my visa next year and travel next year”, she had resolved.
Suddenly, she had to go. Her travel documents were done online but Dana was a tad apprehensive because of the health risk. “A little bit, yes”, she admitted, “but my mind was focused on the big picture.” The determined daughter highlighted another measure used by the airlines to safeguard health. “I went up on a full flight. I came home on a full flight with the middle seats empty”,
*Names changed to safeguard interviewees privacy.
Author’s notes: HUBERT LAWRENCE, a public relations practitioner and sports fan, has written on communications, love and romance, men’s lifestyles and sport for Buzzz magazine in the past.
To read more, please purchase a copy of Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine Vol 10 #10 in a store near you.
Follow the Buzzz on Instagram and Facebook
Share this post: