Airports are reopening and some airlines are either making a return to the air or increasing the number of flights they operate per day. But the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we travel, possibly forever, and cramming into packed terminals and joining jostling queues is no longer viable. From cutting-edge tech to overhauled check-in procedures, we take a look at some of the steps being taken to minimise risk as we return to the skies.

Many airports will need to do a little shape-shifting and revise their layouts to ensure social distancing is possible. One-way systems may be necessary to keep people moving smoothly through terminals, for example, while airports will need to make space for new testing areas and extra check-in machines. Research company Gensler suggests queuing areas should be limited, seating areas reconfigured and check-in areas spread throughout the terminal.

Keeping contact to a minimum is a priority for airports and airlines, which means online-only check-in is likely to become the norm rather than manual check-in desks. Where a passenger does need assistance from a member of staff, plexiglass screens will form a protective barrier around the desks.

Some airports are going further with contactless machines, from voice-activated units to biometric screening using facial and retinal recognition technology and allowing ID verification to be fully automated. Delta opened the first biometric terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport in late 2018, using facial scanning to take passengers through check-in, security and boarding – and the pandemic will no doubt motivate others to follow suit.

It should now be easier to find your flight on the board simply because there will be fewer routes. Airlines are resuming or – for those that have been operating a skeleton fleet, such as domestic airlines in the US – increasing service with an initial focus on the most popular routes. Qatar Airways, for instance, is rolling out its network in phases and “in line with passenger demand evolution and the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world”. Here's what the world's cities looked like before, during and after lockdown.

Pre-boarding health checks could become the norm. Air France, for example, is checking passengers’ temperatures using infrared thermometers and may deny boarding to anyone with a reading of 38ºC (100ºF) or above. Etihad Airways is trialling kiosks that can monitor a passenger’s temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. The check-in process will automatically halt if any red flags are raised.

Airports and airlines are trialling new and innovative ways to ensure that, once people have transitioned through the terminal and boarded the plane, they have been certified clear of COVID-19. At Puerto Rico’s San Juan Airport, that means thermal-imaging cameras. These newly-installed gadgets screen passengers as they arrive and trigger an alarm when it registers a temperature of 38ºC (100ºF) or higher. Those passengers will be taken aside for further testing.

Immunity passports have been hotly debated. These would allow those who have been infected by, and recovered from, COVID-19 to produce documentation enabling them to travel more easily. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against the idea on the basis that we don’t yet know whether an individual can be infected more than once. But, with Greece, Sardinia and the Balearic Islands among destinations discussing antibody-based passports, it’s likely we’ll see something similar.

Hong Kong has been among the most innovative and forward-thinking in its approach for readying its airport for a post-COVID world. Among the sophisticated technology it’s using is a full-body disinfectant booth. A little like a tanning booth, it works by spraying the person with sanitiser for 40 seconds, avoiding the face. It’s currently being trialled by staff but may be rolled out for passengers in future.

Singapore’s Changi Airport has installed more than 1,200 hand-sanitising stations across the terminals, with around a quarter of those fitted with motion sensors so users don’t need to touch anything. The airport has also sprayed touchscreen terminals, lift buttons and bag-drop machines with a protective disinfectant coating that reduces the risk of viruses and bacteria remaining on them.

Grabbing a meal or meeting fellow travellers while belly-up to the bar might become a thing of the past. Or at least, it will look very different. Some airport restaurants remain closed or with very restricted opening times, with ‘grab and go’ cafés and shops the only options for hungry passengers. When they do reopen, they will face the same challenges as the rest of the hospitality industry in balancing service with extra safety precautions.

Hong Kong Airport has been using self-operating cleaning robots since early April 2020. The tall automatons – Intelligent Sterilisation Robots – constantly rotate through the terminals to disinfect, using a UV light to blitz germs and sterilise surfaces. They’re also on toilet duty. And Pittsburgh Airport in Pennsylvania, USA are also adopting robot cleaners.

Regardless of whether footfall rises or, as many experts predict, remains relatively low as restrictions ease, the likelihood is that queues will be far longer than before the pandemic simply because passengers are required to maintain a safe distance from one another. In the US, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has introduced distancing markers, while security checkpoints at some airports have been consolidated due to reduced passenger numbers.

The TSA has relaxed rules on liquids in hand luggage but only for hand sanitiser, with bottles up to 350ml (12oz) allowed through security. They’re also asking passengers to stow keys, phones, wallets and any loose change inside their hand luggage rather than putting them in plastic bins, to minimise contact.

Both hand luggage and check-in bags will go through a ‘fogging’ procedure – sent through a mist of disinfectant – at bag drop, security and upon landing, before being placed on the carousel at baggage claim. That’s the prediction of Simpliflying, which specialises in airline marketing strategy. The company’s report on the future of travel in a post-coronavirus world suggests ‘sanitagging’ bags to show they’ve been treated will be a common procedure.

You know those minivans and bendy buses that we used to pile onto – the ones that rattled and wobbled along for a few metres before pulling up next to the plane? The main issue now won’t be trying not to fall over but maintaining a safe distance from fellow passengers. Passengers numbers would need to be strictly reduced on each journey, which could greatly increase waiting times.

Several airlines including Singapore, Korean Air, Jetstar Asia and Air France have made wearing a mask compulsory for crew members and passengers. Airline association IATA believes this could be the way forward, arguing that other measures – such as reducing the number of passengers onboard – could mean airlines either having to raise fare prices or risk going bust.

The middle seat doesn’t tend to be most people’s first choice (though there must be some fans out there). And it could remain empty on some flights in an effort to allow social distancing between passengers. EasyJet and Alaska Airlines are among those to block sales of middle seats, though it’s not clear how long the policy will remain and EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren described it as part of an “initial phase” as it returns to the skies.

One longer-term solution could be the reworking of economy cabin interiors entirely. Italian firm Aviointeriors, who create seating and fittings for airlines including Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways, recently released designs for their “Janus” two-faced seat, named after the ancient Roman god. As this picture shows, the centre seat is reversed and all three passengers in the row would be protected by a transparent shield.

Space and legroom have always been at a premium, and those travelling in first- and business-class cabins will have even more space to stretch out as airlines reduce capacity due to the pandemic. Alaska Airlines has capped the sale of first-class seats at 50%. Take a look at the visible impact coronavirus has had on the world's pollution too. 

Business-class travellers could upgrade their usual seat to one on a private jet, swerving the busy airport experience altogether and taking advantage of swift, exclusive check-in procedures and contact-free boarding. Ian Moore of VistaJet, the only private aviation company to operate globally, believes many travellers will be “wary of returning to crowded commercial flights” and that there could be “an uptick in first or business-class flyers shifting to flying private”.

You might want to stock up on snacks, especially before a long flight. The usual onboard meal and drink service has been suspended on many short-haul flights, while food on long-haul journeys may be limited to pre-wrapped cold items like sandwiches and salads. Southwest has stopped serving snacks and drinks, with the exception of cans of mineral water, while Qantas is encouraging passengers to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Huge aircraft could be a thing of the past. At least, that’s what some experts are predicting, as airlines struggle to fill seats and smaller, more controllable environments hold more appeal. Aviation consultant Andrew Charlton goes so far as to suggest jumbo jets like the Boeing 747 will never fly again, in an interview with the Guardian. Lufthansa has announced it will be retiring many of its 747s and scrapping half its new Airbus A380 models.

Visitors may be offered the option of taking a test on arrival to see if they have the virus, as an alternative to quarantine requirements. Iceland has announced it will be introducing the tests no later than June 15, giving travellers a chance to prove they are clear of COVID-19. The country currently has a 14-day quarantine requirement.

Iceland is among countries to introduce tracing apps to track coronavirus cases and identify the worst-affected areas, and has said visitors landing there will likely be required to download it to their phones. Hong Kong goes further, fitting new arrivals with electronic tracking bracelets to ensure they self-quarantine for a fortnight at home or in a hotel.

From cruising to hotels: here's what the future of travel looks like