[ti:Empty Middle Seat? Depends on Which Country You Are Flying In.] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.28]For years, travelers have gotten used to low-cost flying on planes filled with passengers. [00:11.24]But, like everything else, the coronavirus will change their expectations. [00:21.08]Feng Xueli from Beijing took a flight within China recently. [00:28.68]The airplane was full because it was permitted under Chinese rules. [00:36.64]"We needed to wear a mask during the flight," he said. [00:41.88]"You also need to go through a lot of temperature checks [00:46.80]and security checks when you leave the airport." [00:52.84]Travelers, airlines and airports are dealing with [00:57.52]the different rules put in place during the pandemic. [01:03.36]The rules are different in almost every country. [01:09.32]In Thailand, you cannot have food or water on the airplane and you must wear a mask. [01:19.28]In Malaysia and Indonesia, the plane needs to be half-empty. [01:25.40]In the United States and Europe, airlines are not required to leave the middle seat open. [01:34.16]This means passengers cannot keep social distance. [01:41.40]Subhas Menon is head of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines. [01:48.60]He said that it is not going to be easy to travel [01:53.68]"because of all of the measures that are going to be introduced." [02:00.52]The last time there were big changes in air travel [02:04.68]was due to the 2001 attacks in the United States. [02:10.64]Travelers "understood the security requirements that came after 9/11," [02:17.68]said Boeing vice-president Mike Delaney. [02:21.84]He added that international airlines need to work together [02:27.48]to decide on the new rules for flying. [02:33.36]Airline service is changing too. [02:38.88]Business class meals were once a reason to pay for the higher level of service. [02:45.84]Now, those meals are not much better than economy class [02:51.00]as airlines such as Emirates, Air Canada, and British Airways cut costs. [03:00.96]And Qantas Airways now ask passengers to check in online [03:07.60]to limit contact with employees and other fliers. [03:15.00]On the airplane, one of the biggest questions [03:18.52]has been whether the middle seat should be empty. [03:23.76]That means airlines would only fill 65 percent of the seats on a plane with passengers [03:32.76]- not enough to make money without increasing the cost of the seats. [03:41.36]Afif Zakwan recently took a Malaysia Airlines flight [03:47.16]within the country that was not required to fly half-empty. [03:52.72]He said he was not worried while on a short, in-country flight, [03:59.16]but he would not fly internationally for now. [04:04.76]Some nations are setting rules just for airlines registered in their country, [04:11.56]while others are setting them for all international airlines. [04:19.12]U.S. airlines are among those requiring passengers and crew to wear masks. [04:26.36]They have also said they will make temperature checks. [04:33.04]In Europe, airlines mostly decided not to leave the middle seat empty. [04:38.76]But they have made other changes they hope will keep passengers [04:43.80]from worrying about coronavirus. [04:49.64]It is hard to social distance on an airplane, [04:53.80]Finnair Chief Executive Topi Manner told Reuters. [04:59.96]He added that health risks can be lowered by requiring passengers to wear masks. [05:08.28]I'm Susan Shand. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM