The COVID-19 travel bans have given the aviation industry the chance to reflect on their vulnerability in the face of an unseen enemy. The battle between big profits and human wellbeing is on, writes retired Cathay Pacific first officer Garry C. Mitchell.

Passengers landing in Australia will now be transferred from arrivals to a hotel to complete their 14-day isolation period – with the Defence Force checking people comply with the measures.

The cabin supervisor held back tears to deliver an emotional farewell speech to her staff and crew as her plane was about to land. “Tough times don’t last,” she signed off, “but tough people do”.

A ramping up of social distancing, travel bans and state lockdowns have forced airlines to stand down the majority of their staff. But amid the chaos, what's next for Australia's aviation industry?