To be shocked at how many planes are still in the air over the USA?

[shilohbear]

Anyone who uses flight radar 24 will already be aware of this but I can't believe how many flights are still taking off over America. I know some will be cargo planes carrying goods but it's still a shocking amount compared to Europe who's airspace is comparatively empty. They are going to have a real problem on their hands soon aren't they if they carry on like this? Pictures for comparison.

I was also surprised at the number of Europe - US flights and vice versa, thought these ended weeks ago

That does look like a lot of flights, but keep in mind that some, if not many, will be freight flights. If you've lived in the US, you'll be aware of the vast distances between places.

BA and Virgin seem to still flying NYC to Heathrow- well they were a few days ago when i checked. I'm shocked- i bet those people are just walking off the plane and then onto the tube. S. Korea would be testing you then even if negative you are quarantined via an app

Yes, I noticed that as well. There was a flight earlier going to Boston from London and there's one at the moment in the air going from Paris to Chicago.

DH is flying to UK on next monday. He has to isolate for 7 days. He should be flying to Argentina but they are not accepting flights, he has an Argentine passport but still can't get back in.

Another one in the air now going from London to Washington.

Internal flights haven’t been banned in the US yet.

Yes Blue. There's one in the air right now.

Part of it is to do with airlines protecting their slots. This is a bit of a long read but explains it in quite a lot of detail:

edition.cnn.com/travel/amp/airport-slots-ghost-flights/index.html

We don't have any limitations as far as domestic travel goes

I think it's part of their deal - that planes carry on as normal.

The US is a gargantuan land mass. Many of those planes will be performing the same services as long distance train companies or coaches. We still have public transport running in the UK, why not there?

Many will be freight.

Many will be empty.

There are also many more privately owned planes in the US than the UK.

Haven't they even issued advice to complete essential journeys only? That seems crazy.

Yes, a friend flew home from San Francisco at the weekend, he left early so he could still get a commercial flight, Was quite surprised.

@shilohbear we are free to travel as we please as far as the federal goverment goes. Many of the hardest hit states do have no essential travel which they are not enforcing. In my area we have a shelter in place order which means absolutely nothing to most of the people in the area so its business as usual.