Opinion was mixed today on the streets of Carlow among people who were asked if they would be happy to fly again from 1 July, the date earmarked by Ryanair for the resumption of up to 40% of its normal flight schedule.
Some people in the area felt that it is too soon to consider taking commercial flights, others thought that if the experts within the aviation industry are happy to push on, then they would be happy to go with them.
One woman in Carlow town was worried about "people being on top of one another, no social distancing" and not knowing if there will be a second wave of Covid-19.
"Definitely would not fly, probably not for the rest of the year," she told RTÉ News. "A lot of people would probably be like that."
A local man said he trusts the airlines in general. "I wouldn't have the expertise for that, it’s up to the experts to explain whether it’s safe or not. Other than that, I would fly with them if everything was okay, Aer Lingus or Ryanair."
A woman originally from Midleton, Co Cork but living in Carlow said "probably not" but that at some stage "we’re going to have to try and get back to normal" and that flying would depend on elements such as the seating and temperature.
However, she added: "I don’t know, I suppose if it’s not safe for the children to get back to school, we’d want to watch it for a while… Of course we’d all love to go somewhere with a bit of sun and all the rest of it… You’ve made me think… I’d usually be a risk-taker but I’m not sure I’d go with Mr O’Leary for another while, even though I’d love to!
"The idea that people are talking about getting back to normal is fantastic at the same time. But when you think about the Leaving Certs, the fact that they couldn’t even get them back at the end of July, he’s being a bit optimistic, isn’t he?"
One man who is originally from Ulster but based in Carlow, said he will be making a conscious effort to holiday at home when it is safe to travel within the country again, "and support Irish businesses. I think that's more important now when we get back to normal, especially to support small and medium enterprises in Ireland. That’s what I’ll be doing anyway."
In relation to flying itself, he said he would be nervous about "long haul" flights and pointed out that Michael O’Leary has referred to the difficulties about social distancing within planes.
"If we keep up this weather, there’s enough beautiful Irish scenery to enjoy anyway," he said.
Another local person who said she only leaves the house once a week at the moment, to get her shopping, felt it is "still too early, there’s still new cases and people dying".
Her concerns would be "that you’d catch it, it’s still too dangerous".
Meanwhile Michael Lyons, from Carlow, said he thought that if the requisite distances are in place and the airlines are happy with the arrangements, he would be confident about flying.
"Looking forward to it, I hope. The sooner the better… It depends on what Leo says of course, whether we can or we can’t, and I’m sure there’s more important things, but saying that, people will have to travel again."
