Holiday Which? claims air passengers face dangers from recycled air

Airline Industry Information, March 12, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A report by British consumer rights magazine Holiday Which? claims that air passengers' health is being put at risk on commercial flights as airlines reduce air quality to cut costs.

The report, published today (12 March), states that passengers face dangers from recycled cabin air which can carry airborne diseases and dangerous engine fumes. According to the magazine, some pilots reduce the flow of fresh air into cabins to save fuel. The dry, recycled air can then increase the chance of people picking up airborne diseases, including tuberculosis.

The magazine - which also touched on other problems including low cabin pressure which can lead to problems for pregnant women, the elderly or people with heart disease - has said that there is no minimum standard in the UK for air filters and no regulations for humidity and temperature.

The British Air Transport Association - the industry body for UK airlines - claims that the report is wrong and that passengers are not being put at risk.

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