Originally Posted by
b1lanc
"Even after grounding more than 3,000 aircraft, or nearly 50% of the active U.S. fleet, the group said its member carriers, which include the four largest U.S. airlines, are averaging just 17 passengers per domestic flight and 29 passengers per international flight."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/co...travel-decline
Shouldn't have to worry about social distancing at this rate.
Sounds pretty bad.
OTOH, US carriers are required to fly a number of routes as well as pay crew whether they fly or not as well as ground staff under the terms of the airline bailout.
Many of these carriers have take-or-pay contracts for more fuel than they're now using and all have plenty of surplus aircraft available so nothing is going to need anything more than minor line maintenance. They'll just either use up old equipment close to retirement or rotate aircraft in and out of storage or both.
Most of us won't return to air travel until we've either had a positive antibody test, a vaccination or an effective medical treatment is identified and proven in use.
Would be a nice time to fly but most of us remain too risk-averse to try it.