How to enforce social distancing in transport, when deconfinement begins? The question was asked to Elisabeth Borne, this Monday morning at the microphone of Europe 1. The Minister for the Ecological Transition launched a few tracks without saying everything about the government's plan, which Prime Minister Édouard Philippe must present this Tuesday before the National Assembly.
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This deconfinement must in any case go through an increase in traffic in public transport, greatly reduced for over a month. " We are between 10% and 30% of the normal transport offer in Île-de-France and in the region, " said Élisabeth Borne. " We have to go back as much as possible " this offer, but also " ensure that there is not too much traffic in transport ", warns the Minister of Ecological and Inclusive Transition who recommends, to this end, maintain telework where possible. The aim is to avoid overloading passengers during rush hour. The Minister also indicated that the disinfection of buses, metros and trams would be reinforced; she recommended turning to the bike when possible.
In transport, wearing a mask will be mandatory from the start of deconfinement, announced the Elysee last week. A measure that raises the question of the number of masks available. The President of the Île-de-France Region, Valérie Pécresse, announced this weekend that masks would be distributed in transport, without hiding her reservations about the government's plan in this area. " As the State does not seem ready to distribute masks, we will do it ... I am a pragmatist ". " Those who need masks can have them, " retorts Élisabeth Borne. " We have mobilized all French production capacities to produce fabric masks which will be reusable ."
Air France will not have " blank checks "
The future of the aviation sector is another unknown in the management of deconfinement. Air France will receive € 7 billion in bank and government loans to manage the crisis in the sector. " This is not a blank check, " says Élisabeth Borne, who wants to see Air France " reduce CO2 emissions per passenger, reduce CO2 emissions on domestic flights by 50% by 2024, through the use of biofuel ... "
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" State aid to strategic companies is enshrined in law, " the minister said, despite everything, stressing that Air France had helped repatriate French citizens - more than 150,000 - and had participated in the airlift of sanitary equipment set up with China. This increasingly close relationship between the State and Air France should allow the firm to face the difficult period to come: "a scenario seems to be emerging which could be a return to the level of activity from 2019 around 2022", warned Ben Smith, CEO of Air France KLM.
