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This is the twelfth Potpourri edition. Computer issues prevented the last publication on time

This information resource is intended to capture some of the articles about the coronavirus impact on aviation. Not included are, for example, the high profile battles over the grants/loans under CARES, but stories of how the aviation safety personnel are dealing with this epidemic.

AIRLINES

How HEPA Filters Have Been Purifying Cabin Air Since the 1990s

Here’s What COVID-19 Precautions Look Like for Different Airlines

Major U.S. Airlines Announce Health Acknowledgment Requirement | Airlines For America

Italy Bans Use Of Airplane Overhead Bins

Travel’s new world: Delta Air Lines to maintain distancing by capping seat sales

German and Dutch governments put up billions to save airlines

Insolvent Virgin Australia to be Sold to U.S. Equity Firm Bain Capital

How airlines have managed their fleet mix during the COVID-19 pandemic | Flightradar24 Blog

United Claims Sparse Seating is Simply a ‘PR Strategy’

American Airlines Boosts Travelers’ Peace of Mind with VUMC Expertise

IATA assures it is safe to fly despite pandemic

How To Safely Fly On An Airplane

Here’s What COVID-19 Precautions Look Like for Different Airlines

In individual airport news: JFKIAT, which runs terminal four at JFK International Airport, is launching a Covid-19 testing and screening site in the airport, which it says is the first of its kind in the country. The XpresCheck location is open to all JFK terminal employees, airline employees and airport workers (including TSA and CBP staff). It can screen up to 500 employees per day, with nine separate rooms, and has the capability to screen both for the virus and antibodies.

SELLING SEATS: American Airlines announced on Friday that it will go back to booking planes at full capacity, no longer blocking seats in order to create a perception of social distancing on its aircraft.

This led to some misleading headlines and misguided reactions on social media. The reality is that no airline was or is offering social distancing, as defined by medical professionals, on its planes. Even on a flight that’s half full, passengers would still be within six feet of others in almost every imaginable scenario and seating layout. So American isn’t “throwing out” or “ditching” social distancing policies, as several headlines read: It was never offering social distancing in the first place.

Another example of the strange patchwork that’s led to inconsistent experiences for air passengers: Allegiant Airlines is making masks mandatory for its passengers starting this week. That puts it way behind most other U.S. airlines that have had that requirement in place for nearly two months (although enforcement is a separate question).

COMPLAINING IN DROVES: Nearly 20,000 Americans filed consumer complaints with DOT in April, according to a new report from the agency. The 19,856 complaints are staggering, especially when compared with April 2019, which saw only 1,206. The vast majority of complaints were about refunds, as airlines canceled flights by the thousands and in some cases shifted their refund policies by the day.

The big loser: United Airlines, which was the subject of nearly 3,000 complaints to DOT in April.

Consumer advocacy groups like Consumer Reports are using the data to reup their call for DOT to mandate refunds for passengers whose travel was disrupted by the pandemic. “Secretary [Elaine] Chao has a duty to protect airline passengers and should immediately take action to ensure they get the refunds they deserve,” said CR’s Anna Laitin. Up to this point, DOT has simply reminded airlines of their duty to provide refunds when the carriers cancel flights.

More April data: Scheduled airline flights in April hit record lows, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The 194,390 flights operated by carriers beat out the all-time monthly low set in February 1994. And both the number and percentage of canceled flights hit record highs: 137,000 flights were canceled in April, for a 41 percent cancellation rate, more than double the number of scheduled flights that were canceled after 9/11.