COVID-19: Welcome to the new reality of mass air travel

As people dream of taking to the skies once more, they face the prospect that changes to curb the spread of coronavirus will be even more challenging than those brought in after the 2001 terror attacks in the United States. | Travellers having their documents checked prior to taking a flight at Sukarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang near Jakarta.

In addition to the strict security measures commonplace around the world since then, passengers will now encounter a barrage of checks for COVID-19. | A health worker wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) places a home quarantine stamp of the hand of an arriving passenger at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

The United Nations' civil aviation agency has drawn up a set of guidelines for safe flying in the wake of the pandemic, from mandatory wearing of masks to the disinfection of areas people come in contact with. | Passengers wearing facemasks as they sit apart from one another while waiting for their flights at Tianhe Airport in Wuhan.

A flight attendant wearing a facemask (L) as she checks the body temperature of boarding passengers next to the door of the plane at Tianhe Airport in Wuhan.

Industry body the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has suggested governments collect passenger data - including health information - ahead of travel, and that access to airports be restricted to staff and same-day travellers. | Travellers queueing to have their documents checked prior to taking a flight at Sukarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang near Jakarta.

Travellers queueing to have their documents checked prior to taking a flight at Sukarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang near Jakarta.

An airport employee (C) wearing a face shield checks the body temperature of a passenger at Bagdogra airport.

Travellers queueing to have their documents checked prior to taking a flight at Sukarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang near Jakarta.

Travellers having their documents checked prior to taking a flight at Sukarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang near Jakarta.

The most hotly debated measure in the industry has been whether to leave middle seats empty. | Passengers wear protective face masks and are physically distanced on a flight from Calgary to Vancouver. Airlines around the world are suffering financially due to the lack of travel and travel bans due to COVID-19.

An airline employee wearing a facemask (R) as she checks the body temperature of passengers in the boarding area at Tianhe Airport in Wuhan.

Empty seats are seen during a flight from Vancouver to Calgary.