Behind the mask: Coronavirus and China

Masks are a symbol of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus outbreak concentrated in mainland China, first detected in Wuhan. When the outbreak ends, masks won’t — not just as a physical object but a cover to make significant changes in Chinese aviation. These changes won’t be nefarious or negative, but instead will be change for the better. They will have been a long time coming, prompted but not caused by the coronavirus.

There are immediate challenges. Within two weeks of Wuhan’s quarantine, total domestic flights dropped by two-thirds, according to Flightradar24. This is a massive problem: even at China’s more internationally-exposed airlines, over half of revenue is earned domestically.

Regaining passenger volumes will first require a sense of normalcy, ending not just formal quarantines but also suggestions to limit interaction. Then traffic needs to be stimulated, perhaps challenging since Chinese airlines have long relied on demand exceeding supply.