Date Published: 12/05/2020
ARCHIVED - The Guardia Civil denounces Iberia Air and Air Europa for lack of social distancing on flights
ARCHIVED ARTICLE The companies are accused of non-compliance with sanitary measures
The Civil Guard has issued denuncias against Iberia Express and Air Europa for failing to comply with the sanitary measures requiring maximum possible separation between passengers on three flights: two from Madrid to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Palma de Mallorca and another that connected Palma and Ibiza.
At the moment the Civil Guard has denounced Iberia for two flights, including one last Sunday, from Madrid to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria after seeing numerous complaints on social networks about the high occupation inside the cabin.
Members of the Guardia met the plane when it landed in Gran Canaria to verify the conditions on board.
The Airbus A320 took off from Barajas with 155 people on board and a capacity of 180 seats available, exceeding the maximum of 70% capacity rule established within the state of emergency, which stipulates that aircraft should establish the maximum distance possible between passengers.
The airline maintains that it had “met with the guidelines included in the state of alarm” and operates a plan which “guarantees the safety of its passengers.”
Passengers were shocked to see how crowded the plane was, and loaded footage onto social media, “Are we mad?” one asked.
Passengers must now wear masks on all flights and are not allowed to board without one.
Flights are routinely deep-cleaned after passengers have departed, leading to longer turn-around times.
In flight refreshments and meals have been suspended and airlines have taken steps to limit passenger-staff contacts.
The Guardia Civíl has also submitted two other denuncias for similar situations; another situation involving Iberia Express for a flight on April 15th between Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, and the other to Air Europa for another flight on April 20th, between Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.
The complaint has also been sent to the corresponding government delegations, as well as to the Civil Aviation Authority for investigation.
Many airlines have rejected the idea of taking out rows of seats due to the increased seat prices that this would generate; rises of up to 50% on ticket costs would be the most likely outcome.
YESTERDAY THERE WERE STILL 65,000 ACTIVE CASES OF COVID-19 ACROSS SPAIN: TAKE SENSIBLE MEASURES TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND PREVENT THE FURTHER SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS.
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