A fully loaded passenger aircraft has one of the smallest volumes of air per person compared to any enclosed public place. Airborne diseases can spread when an infected person's cough/sneeze droplets come in contact with people or surfaces---like airplane seats and tray tables. Hence, the public and government bodies have significantly reduced air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to this, the global airline industry is facing its gravest crisis. This also impacts the UK as it has the third-largest aviation network in the world, and the second-largest aerospace manufacturing sector.
This project explores a novel concept that may reduce the risk of an aircraft passenger contracting airborne diseases (like COVID-19 or common flu) during the flight. If feasible, in the short term, this concept might make flying safer and allow a speedy recovery of the aviation industry from the COVID-19 crisis (in the UK and across the globe).In the long term, this concept research will ensure that similar systems are considered for new aircraft designs to minimise future impacts of epidemics/pandemics on the aviation industry.