Tight screenings, longer queue time at airports amid Coronavirus

NEW DELHI: The next time you plan to take a flight, prepare to reach airport more than a couple of hours in advance, even for domestic travel.

Unlike in the past when passengers checked in early and could use lounge facilities or indulge in drink, sumptuous meals or spa, much of their time will now be spent on screening and maintaining social distance before making it to their flights.

Airport operations are nearly shut and commercial airlines grounded, as the country is under a government-imposed lockdown to contain the covid-19 pandemic.

However, when operations resume with the lifting of the lockdown in the near future, taking flights may not be the same again.

As per the standard operational methodology (SOP) rules arranged via Airports Authority of India (AAI), which gives a sneak look into air terminal activities post the lockdown time frame, just a restricted nourishment and drinks (F&B) shops and retail outlets will be made accessible for travelers at air terminals. While nourishment will be served in takeaway boxes, liquor won't be allowed except if approved by neighborhood organization. Spa focuses and knead seat offices will stay suspended as a wellbeing measure to keep up social removing standards. 

A duplicate of the SOP rules have been assessed by Mint. AAI works an enormous number of air terminals, including significant air terminals like Delhi and Mumbai, either autonomously or in association with private air terminal administrators, and handles aviation authority administrations, the nation over. 

Travelers will be situated with a hole of 1 meter to 1.5 meter. Seating zones will be made in the security hold so that there is an arrangement for exchange utilization of seating for withdrawing travelers and the territories will be regularly cleaned and purified. 

Air terminals will send uncommon staff close to washrooms, x-beam machines, and transport lines to actualize social separating



among travelers. 

Travelers should factor in adequate time at passage focuses, registration counters, searching corners, and loading up doors, where exacting consistence of social removing standards will be supervised via air terminal and security authorities. 

Air terminals will likewise have markers for social removing standards at places like registration lines, boarding line, and so on. 

Assigned stopping stands and stuff recover belts and merry go rounds will be made for flights showing up from covid-19 hotspots. Travelers can likewise expect visit spread of wellbeing related data through the type of banners, recordings, handouts and open declarations at air terminals and inside flights. 

Certain pieces of the air terminal like kerb zone, city side traffic, and vehicle parkings will be carefully observed by the staff and security work force to forestall clog.

Sufficient number of doctors and paramedics will be deployed at airports to screen passengers before they are allowed to board a flight.

Airports will also have to set up dedicated triage areas or isolation areas with access to primary medical facilities at both arrival and departure terminals for confirmed or suspected covid-19 patients.

"These are all temporary measures, which will be in place till we are able to tackle the covid-19 pandemic. Airports will have to strictly follow the standard operating procedure," a senior AAI official said, requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi, also the country's busiest, will minimize human contact when operations resume, Delhi International Airport Authority (DIAL), a consortium between GMR Group, AAI, and Fraport AG & Eraman Malaysia, said in a release recently.

"DIAL will encourage all passengers to wear masks and maintain social distancing at all times, to ensure their own safety and well being," it added.