SOPs For Air Traveler Out As Domestic Flights Begin from May 25

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued guidelines for airports as domestic passenger flight services resume from May 25, Monday. As per the standard operating procedure (SOP) to airport operators, Aarogya Setu app will not be mandatory for children below 14 years of age.

As per the new rules, passengers will have to reach the airport two hours in advance for compulsory thermal screening of passengers before they enter the terminal. "Passengers shall compulsorily walk through screening zone for thermal screening at a designated place in the city side before entering the terminal building," the AAI said. 

Airport operators must make appropriate arrangements for sanitisation of a passenger's baggage before his or her entry into the terminal building, said the SOP dated May 20. 

Passengers will require to wear masks and gloves. Only those whose flight is in the next four hours will be allowed to enter terminal building, the AAI said. Passengers will require to undergo thermal screening before entering terminal building. Those that don’t show ‘green’ on Aarogya Setu will not be allowed to enter airport, it said 

AAI said that the use of trolley should be avoided as far as possible. But it will be available to a select few passengers on request basis, it added. 

As the passenger will enter the terminals, mats soaked in bleach will be placed at the entry for disinfection of shoes. "At passenger touch-points, staff would either wear face shields behind counter or put glass wall at counters," it said.  

There will be constant announcements about social distancing and other norms within the airport premises. The boarding and deplaning will be executed in batches to maintain social distance. 

Also, all airport staff would require to wear PPEs and the airport administration will be required to provide hand sanitisers for staff and passenger. 

The AAI manages more than 100 airports across the country. However, major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are managed by private companies. 

Two months after the government of India imposed a nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus, domestic flight operations are set to resume again. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Puri on Wednesday announced that India will start domestic flight operations in a "calibrated manner" from May 25. 

Earlier this month, in a communication to airport managers across the country, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had asked all airports to be prepared to handle flight operations.