As scientists look for ways to slash the coronavirus contagion, recent research has claimed that passengers boarding an aircraft from back to front actually increased the risk of infection by 50 per cent. The study, published April 28, in the Royal Society Open Science Journal clarified that the high risk comes from closer contact between same row passengers clustering in the aisle as they stow their luggage. The findings quash the theory that back-to-front boarding, as opposed to random boarding, was safer when it came to air travel.
The idea of back to front boarding was first adopted by US’ Delta Airlines and was soon followed by others. Perpetrators of the theory have argued that by allowing aircraft to be boarded back to front, they would reduce exposure between seated passengers and those walking down the plane. Meanwhile, the recent study argued that the risk of virus exposure could be reduced by stopping people using overhead storage bins, and by boarding passengers in window seats before those in aisle seats.
Delta adopted back-to-front boarding to "minimize contact with other customers," according to its website, though the Atlanta based airline only boards 10 passengers at a time. The change was among several across the industry -- including blocking out middle seats --- to persuade passengers it is safe to get back on a plane.
28/04/21 Riya Baibhawi/Republic World
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