Delta, United, and American are 'fogging' their planes to make them safe for travel amid coronavirus - here's what that means
Delta Air Lines first began fogging its aircraft in February when concerns about the spread of the coronavirus outside of China were growing, focusing on those coming from the Asia-Pacific region.
The process is simple and includes a ground service agent spraying each surface of the aircraft with a fogging machine that sprays a disinfectant that sticks to surfaces but is safe to breathe.
Source: Delta Air Lines
"The fogging procedure uses a high-grade, EPA-registered disinfectant and virucide that is highly effective against many communicable diseases, including coronaviruses," said Delta in a March 13 news release. "It is safe for customers and crew immediately after it's applied."
Source: Delta Air Lines
Delta later announced that all of its transoceanic would have the disinfectant applied via fogging after Europe became a hotspot for the virus.
Source: Delta Air Lines
United Airlines later announced that it, too, would be fogging aircraft interiors in addition to its enhanced cleaning regiment for cabins.
Source: United Airlines
The airline first announced that its international arrivals to Newark Liberty International Airport on wide-body aircraft would initially receive the treatment. United later expanded the scope to include all international arrivals to US hubs including Hawaii and Guam.
Source: United Airlines
United didn't respond to request for comment on whether domestic flights would receive the treatment.
American Airlines similarly announced that fogging would be expanded and included in its aircraft cabin cleaning routine.
Source: American Airlines
American identified 11 surface points that would be targeted for fogging including seats, in-flight entertainment screens, tray tables, overhead bins, and lavatories, among others.
Source: American Airlines
Fogging will occur during scheduled overnight cleanings, the airline stated in an updated news release.
Source: American Airlines
The fog is electrically-charged allowing it to stick to surfaces once applied for maximum effect.
All three airlines use an EPA-approved disinfectant that poses no threat to passengers. Similar disinfectants are used in hospitals to combat the spread of pathogens.
Source: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines
Delta announced that its fogging measures will be expanded to nightly for every aircraft on April 1 and later in May to before every flight.
Source: Delta Air Lines
The process on all airlines is also compounded by a physical, thorough cleaning of the surfaces that are most commonly touched on airplanes.
Source: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines
The method has expanded beyond the airlines with private aircraft operators also adopting similar means of disinfecting aircraft.
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