American Airlines, Inc. is touting a new cleaning technique it says has been approved by the U.S. administration for use on some flights as it boosts its disinfection drive to draw customers back.
The product is the company's latest line of defense against COVID-19 surface contamination under the airline industry's Clean Commitment policy geared toward safe and hygienic flying.
American Airlines' new weapon - SurfaceWise2 - is a coating ingredient that protects surfaces from the pathogen and other bacteria for one week after application.
Maker, Texas-based Allied BioScience, Inc., is currently working to have its product granted permanent approval, Environmental Protection Agency administrator Andrew Wheeler said at a news briefing.
The nontoxic coating is applied via an electrostatic spray to provide always-on protection on treated surfaces, Allied BioScience says. Large U.S. carriers like American Airlines competitors Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co. are using the system.
The new cleaning measure is a "game-changer" in efforts to curb the spread of the disease, according to Wheeler. The disinfectant is an innovative step offering extensive protection in public areas and helping revive consumer trust and demand for air travel.
The product can't totally safeguard against the disease's primary mode of transmission. This is saliva, respiratory secretions or secretion droplets released from the mouth or nose when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings, according to the World Health Organization. Scientists have confirmed the virus can be spread mainly through close contact between people. The WHO has warned that COVID-19 can cause infection if transmitted from surfaces to the eyes, mouth or nose.
Meanwhile, public uncertainty over cleanliness and safety has become a comprehensive concern for airlines and experts say this will hamper their business for years. Demand for air travel will fall by more than half this year and won't return to normal for at least four years, according to the latest projection by business and financial information and analytics company S&P International Inc.
