Ask the Editors: The Aviation Week Network invites our readers to submit questions to our editors and analysts. We’ll answer them, and if we can’t we’ll reach out to our wide network of experts for advice.

Is there greater concern about COVID-19 in airports—the lines, hold rooms, bag claims—than on the aircraft itself? Are there statistics that distinguish the aircraft from the airport?

Air Transport World Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker responds: 

I assume the question is about the risk of catching the COVID-19 virus while traveling on a commercial airline. The entire air transport industry is concerned about ensuring the risk of transmission is at the absolute minimum and has implemented many measures across aircraft and airport terminals. 

Most airlines regard the “safety zone” as encompassing airport arrival and check in, boarding, the flight, disembarking and leaving the airport. They have worked with airports and airport authorities to ensure measures such as ample sanitizer dispensers, extra cleaning, contactless kiosks and systems and, of course, mandatory mask wearing at all times for passengers and workers. 

Airlines are also encouraging people to check in ahead and issue their own boarding passes, which can be scanned without touching at many airports. Any reputable airport today is cleaner than most grocery stores or restaurants that the public is happy to use. The restrooms that I saw at three U.S. airports in September were all spotless, with contactless soap and paper towel dispensers.