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

A recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) survey shows that most air travelers support mask-wearing in the near term even while expressing confidence in the safety of air travel, the group reported Wednesday. However, a majority also remain frustrated with the “hassle factor” around Covid-19 protocols, including confusion and uncertainty about travel rules, testing requirements, and excessive test costs.&nbsp;

 


Conducted in June, the survey of 4,700 travelers in 11 markets around the world reveals&nbsp;that 85 percent of respondents believe that airlines thoroughly clean and disinfect their aircraft and 65 percent agree that air cleanliness in an aircraft matches that of an operating room. Among those who have traveled since June 2020, 86 percent felt safe on board due to Covid-19 measures. Passengers also strongly support mask-wearing onboard (83 percent) and strict enforcement of mask rules (86 percent), but a majority also believe the mask requirement should end as soon as possible.

 


At the same time, participants admit that Covid-related rules and requirements affect their willingness to travel. Seventy percent agreed that the rules and the accompanying paperwork were a challenge to understand, 67 percent saw arranging tests&nbsp;as burdensome, and 89 percent said governments must standardize vaccination/testing certifications.

 


Finally, almost nine out of 10 respondents like the idea of using a mobile app to store their travel health credentials, and 87 percent support a secure digital system to manage health credentials. However, 75 percent say they will use an app only if they can maintain full control of their vaccine/test data.

 


“These responses should be a wake-up call to governments that they need to do a better job of preparing for a restart,” said IATA director general Willie Walsh. “Almost two-thirds of respondents plan to resume travel within a few months of the pandemic being contained [and borders opened]. And by the six-month mark, almost 85 percent expect to be back to travel. To avoid overwhelming airports and border-control authorities, governments need to agree to replace paper-based processes with digital solutions like the IATA Travel Pass for vaccine and testing documentation.”

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

Most Airline Passengers Support Mask Wearing: IATA 

An IATA survey shows that passengers remain willing to wear masks to mitigate the risk of Covid transmission. 

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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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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.

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

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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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