Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

New York-based JetBlue will require all customers to wear face coverings during travel starting on May 4, becoming the first U.S. major airline to institute such a mandate. The company said it has modeled its policy on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines indicating everyone should wear a face covering in public to help slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The airline had already required all crewmembers to wear face coverings while working.

 


“Wearing a face covering isn’t about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting those around you,” said JetBlue president and COO Joanna Geraghty. “This is the new flying etiquette. Onboard, cabin air is well circulated and cleaned through filters every few minutes, but this is a shared space where we have to be considerate of others. We are also asking our customers to follow these CDC guidelines in the airport as well.”

 


Since late March, JetBlue has limited the number of seats available for sale on most flights, allowing the airline to provide additional space between individuals not traveling together. Before each flight, JetBlue reviews seat assignments to ensure as much personal space as possible, it said. It has also blocked access to rows near crewmember jump seats to create buffer zones for added crewmember and customer safety.

 


Speaking during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, International Air Transport Association director general Alexandre de Juniac reported that his group has begun work on a plan with an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) task force on a uniform standard for hygiene in aircraft cabins. “One of the first priorities we will put on the table is to design and implement common health, safety, and sanitary control measures for passengers,” said de Juniac. “We have something ready and we will discuss it in this format. We will also approach several governments with this proposal to see how they consider implementing a single system, which is absolutely [necessary] for the restart of our industry.”

 


JetBlue’s move follows a Canadian federal requirement for all airline passengers to wear face coverings starting on April 20. In the Middle East, Dubai’s Emirates became one of the earliest to institute face-covering requirements and some of the most stringent health measures for passengers and crew. On April 15, the airline said it tested on-site all passengers for Covid-19 on a flight to Tunisia before departing Dubai and plans to increase capacity for testing before other flights. As of April 21 the airline began requiring all cabin crew, boarding agents, and ground staff in direct contact with passengers to don personal protective equipment (PPE), including a protective disposable gown over their uniforms and a safety visor, in addition to masks and gloves.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

JetBlue Requiring All Passengers To Wear Face Coverings

A passenger face-covering requirement at JetBlue starting May 4 follows national measures in Canada and the UAE. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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