CABIN BAGGAGE
The Civil Aviation Ministry has projected a draft SOP i.e. standard operating procedures for resuming commercial flights. The meeting happened on Monday regarding the new proposed procedure to be followed by the airline operators, airlines and the travelers. The airline commercial services were withdrawn amidst due to the Covid 19 lockdown since 25th March, to combat the spreading of the pandemic. The ministry has suggested that:
1.All the passengers have to reach the airport 2 hours before the departure time compulsorily.
2. The Sop has proposed not to check the Passenger ID Card to ensure social distancing is maintained at terminal gates.
3. The passengers who flights are supposed to depart in next 6 hours will be permissible to enter inside the airport.
4. The traveler has to do the web check-in at home and not at the airport.
5. Old passengers above 80 years won’t be allowed to travel, they can alter their travel date without any penance.
6. It is mandatory for passengers to download the Aarogya Setu application. People with “Green Status” can only enter the airport premises.
7. Those who will be suffering from high temperature won’t be allowed to travel and can change their dates without any extra cost or penalty.
8. Passengers has to fill a questionnaire stating their past history related to Coronavirus and isolation in advance. If a passenger was quarantined in the preceding one month will be sent to an isolated security check unit.
9. Cabin baggage won’t be permissible in the preliminary phases of operations,
10. No meal services will commence in the flight on board. Only water shall be provided in a cup or bottles in the galley.
11. As per the documents, traveler should be instructed to get familiar with new policies and procedures regarding social distancing rules and avoid touching the surfaces or objects at the airport.
12. The draft SOP also suggested to keep three rows of an aircraft vacant for isolating any medical emergency on board. A crew has to wear a PPE i.e. Personal Protection Equipment to deal with such scenarios. A sufficient number of PPE should be made available on board by the airline.
13. It has also been proposed to preserve the same set of pilots and cabin crew on flights as much as possible to reduce the risk of the pandemic.
14. The airline has to check the temperature of the passenger again at the boarding gate before they aboard the flight.
15. The passengers who will be showing the symptom of the virus should be taken to the isolation zone in the terminal building. The state government is required take care of the medical infrastructure, if there is no set up of APHO i.e. Airport Health Organization.
16. Airport has to make proper arrangements by fumigating and sterilizing common areas like escalator, lift, shops, eating joints and seating area.
17. The check-in counters should be opened 3 hours prior to the flight departure time and will be closed 60 to 75 minutes before flight departure. The boarding will start 1 hour before the scheduled departure and gates are supposed to close prior 20 minutes.
18. The ministry suggested use of portable alcohol hand sanitizers or hand wash cart to be made available for passengers within the airport premises.
19. Searching and checking of passengers will be lessened and is suggested to carry out in case the door frame metal detector will beep.
20. CISF – Central Industrial Security Force has been suggested not to stamp boarding pass of the passengers.
The above mentioned draft has been made after consultations with stakeholders, airline operators and airlines.
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