There is a lot happening right now with COVID-19, a virus commonly known in the media as coronavirus. The situation is evolving rapidly as governments and private industries struggle to prevent the spread of this contagious disease. One of the hardest hit areas to date has been the travel industry.
The virus is now in more than half of U.S. states, which has caused many domestic travelers to think twice about being in a contained space like an airplane for several hours with someone who may have the virus. The nature of travel, and the proximity to others in places like airports and on the airplane itself can put people at higher risk of contracting the virus if you come in contact with someone who is sick.
Airlines have also scaled back the number of flights they are offering, which can make it difficult to get a flight even if you are not concerned about COVID-19.
Travel and Coronavirus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both have information about travel for the public, and both have issued travel warnings for places that you want to avoid because they have ongoing or sustained disease transmission. To date the places with Level 2 or Level 3 travel advisories (which means nonessential travel to these areas is not recommended) include China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, and Italy. The CDC and WHO have also advised against any travel for people who are in high-risk groups, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. If you fall into that group, you are advised not to get on a commercial airplane.Minimizing Your Risk
For many people, travel is an essential part of your life, whether for personal or business reasons. That can make it very difficult to minimize your risk and avoid commercial airlines while still doing the things you need to do. Chartering a private plane is one solution that allows you to travel to the places you need to go while avoiding not only the coronavirus, but all sorts of communicable diseases that can be transmitted between travelers in airports and on airplanes. Charter planes can be booked privately or with a very small group of people so you know exactly who you will be in close proximity to you during your flight. While many people are focused on the health concerns of travel, there are other benefits to chartering a private plane, even after the coronavirus threat is gone. They include:- Choosing the flight schedule that works best for you
- Avoiding the stress and hassle of commercial airports
- Avoiding security lines, bag checks, and TSA screenings
- Traveling to places commercial airlines cannot always go, such as smaller or regional airports
