EU states agree on corona hygiene standards for aviation

"I am pleased that the German proposal was accepted by my colleagues at the European level and that we could agree on these uniform standards," Scheuer said after the conference.

EU officials also agreed that high fresh-air quota in planes must be guaranteed. However, the middle seat does not have to remain unoccupied, according to Reuters.

The set of common rules respond to airlines' demands, after different standards had caused confusion among travellers.

Nevertheless, this agreement still has to be formally approved by the EU transport ministers in their next meeting, when they are also expected to discuss the economic situation of airlines and airports.

The EU has established exemptions for unused landing and slots rights until October, but many airlines want an extension of that.

Trans-Atlantic resumption?

Additionally, major airlines are calling for a joint coronavirus testing programme in order to resume trans-Atlantic travel.

"Given the unquestioned importance of trans-Atlantic air travel to the global economy as well as to the economic recovery of our businesses, we believe it is critical to find a way to re-open air services between the US and Europe," according to their letter sent both to US vice-president Mike Pence and the EU's home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson.

"We recognise that testing presents a number of challenges. However, we believe that a pilot [ie prototype] testing programme for the transatlantic market could be an excellent opportunity for government and industry to work together," it adds.

The EU started opening external borders in July, but the US was not part of the "safe list" of countries from which the bloc allows non-essential travel.

Earlier this month, EU officials updated the safe list and decided to remove Serbia and Montenegro due to the increase of coronavirus infections there.

Although the list will be again updated at the end of the month, the US has still one of the largest coronavirus outbreak in the world.

EU second wave?

Meanwhile, the increase in the number of new coronavirus infections in Europe during the last days has raised alarm bells.

As a result, some EU countries are starting to face what seems the beginning of the second coronavirus wave.

Luxembourg, Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden and Portugal have the highest rates of new Covid-19 infections in the European Union - followed by Spain, Croatia and Belgium, according to the latest data released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.