An initial release of the results, which should not be considered the final version, nevertheless shows that the previously announced safety in the aviation sector is not the case. Many airlines have been proclaiming for months that flying is safe from transmission of the Covid virus through the use of the Hepa filters. A new study, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealed how the transfer of COVID-19 occurred on an Emirates flight to Auckland, New Zealand, despite passenger testing before departure. 

The flight, which landed in New Zealand on September 29, 2020, was operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER. A total of 86 passengers were on board the flight, including the seven passengers who later tested positive. The seven traveled via Dubai to Auckland, New Zealand, coming from five different countries: Ireland, India, Ukraine, South Africa and Switzerland. All seven entered the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) upon arrival on the Pacific Island and tested positive for COVID-19. 

Many airlines, including Emirates, have always praised the safe environment on board airliners in 2020. The HEPA filters, which, according to the CDC, “provide over 99,9999% efficiency” against particles in the 1 range. down to 10 µm, are available on most commercial aircraft, including the Boeing 777-300ER.