Air Travel: Flights Resume From Monday with Certain Precautions
Due to the outbreak of the pandemic nationwide, the Union government had restricted all modes of travel including air travel since March 25. However, after an order by the central government, all the flight services are resuming from Monday.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the domestic flight services will also resume from Monday (May 25, 2020) as part of the Centre’s efforts to gradually open the air travel for the public that was halted two months ago on account of a lockdown assessed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said that there’s no contradiction between domestic flights beginning from May 25 and lockdown in India being assessed till May 31.
The minister further added that the government will try to start a good percentage of international passenger flights before August. Hardeep Singh Puri also informed that the Centre is scheduling to bring back Indian citizens from Sri Lanka either by ship or flights.
However, there will be several changes before the flights resume here is a look at what a flyer arriving at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport’s Terminal 3 can expect in the wake of Covid-19.
Outside the terminal
• Outside the terminal, passengers can check-in through the kiosk
• After web check-in, the passenger heads towards the airline-allowed entry gate. A guard will check the flyer’s temperature and status on the Aarogya Setu app. If they don’t have the app, the flyers will have to fill out a self-declaration form.
Entering the airport
• A security person behind a glass curtain will check the boarding passes and identity cards.
• The passenger then heads to the terminal and goes through a thermal scanner.
• Carpets are soaked in sanitizing chemicals to ensure shoes are disinfected.
• Hand sanitizers will be placed at gates for use by flyers.
Baggage scanning
• Before entering the terminal, passengers will put their luggage in a sanitizing machine where the bags will be treated with ultraviolet radiation to sanitize them.
Check-in
• The passenger heads to check-in counters where they can opt for self baggage check-in.
• Baggage tags will no longer be issued, and passengers will get an SMS to confirm luggage check-in.
Security check
• The passengers move to the security hold area with the one allowed ‘hand-bag’. Here, the contactless screening will be conducted using metal detectors and security personnel will scan the boarding pass before allowing the passenger to the boarding area.
At waiting area
• Shops in non-aero areas will adhere to stringent safety, health, and hygiene rules. All F&B retail shops will be open and orders can be placed on apps or kiosks.
• Passengers will sit at alternate seats, with more seating space added.
• Drinking-water fountains will be foot-pedal operated and washrooms will be deep-cleaned regularly.
• On buses for boarding, only alternate seats to be used.
