AAI Issues New Guidelines before Resumption of Domestic Flights on May 25: Here's the List

Guwahati: A day after the Civil Aviation Minister Harmeet Puri announced that domestic flights shall once again commence from May 25 onwards, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for the airports.

The new guidelines are as follows:

Departure:

State Governments and local administration must ensure proper availability of proper public transport and private taxies for providing connectivity.

The kerb area, city side traffic, and car parking area should be strictly monitored in coordination with traffic police/CISF staff to prevent congestion and maintain social distancing.

Only personal vehicles and select authorized taxi services will be allowed for commuting to and from the airport.

Passengers must reach two hours before departure time and only the passengers will only be allowed the terminal building 4 hours before departure time. All passengers have been instructed to wear masks and gloves.

All, except children below the age of 14 must mandatorily register using the Aarogya Setu app.

Passengers will walk through a screening zone for thermal screening at a designated place in the city before entering the terminal building. Passengers not showing 'green' on the Arogya Setu app will not be allowed to enter.

Usage of trolleys will be discouraged in the departure and arrival area, however, select passengers requiring trolleys due to "genuine" reasons will be provided with trolleys on "request basis."

Baggage must be sanitized by the airport operators before entry to the buildings.

Social distancing markings/stickers at distance of not less than 1 metre shall be set up for passengers as well as staff.

Moreover, mats and carpets soaked with bleach is to be placed at the entrance for disinfecting shoes.

At multiple touch points of interaction with the passengers such as the entry gate to departures, airline check in counters, security check etc, the Airport Operator shall as far as possible try to provide counters mounted with a glass or Perspex or plexiglass sheet sheet with a corner having magnifying area to check the flight ticket or boarding card and identification documents. In case it is not feasible, the concerned personnel should wear a transparent face shield behind a counter to provide physical barrier.

The CISF must depute sufficient staff to manage queue at entry points, frisking booths, boarding gates so as to ensure sufficient distance among passengers is maintained.

For handline passengers with special needs like wheel chair, unaccompanied minor etc, the handling staff must be in full protection gear.

Announcements must be made in the terminal buildings by airlines and airport staff for guiding passengers to maintain social distancing and to wear protective equipment such as masks, gloves, etc.

Airport operators must depute staff to guide passengers to maintain social distance.

The Flight Information Display System and display boards must convey information regarding social distancing, personal protection, and the dos and don'ts.

Social distancing shall be observed in the seating arrangements and the seats which are not to be used shall be blocked with markers and tapes.

The operators have been instructed to ensure that sufficient staff shall be deployed to guide passengers at the check in counters and pre-security counters.

Alternative check-in-counters should be used and they should be opened up well in advance so as to stagger the crowd.

Available CUSS kiosk shall be designated airlines-wise as far as possible and the airlines should position their staff near the CUSS kiosk to help the passengers.

All airport staff must be provided with hand sanitizers and other personal protective equipment as per the MHA guidelines.

Regular disinfection must be carried out at the airport including chairs, washrooms, counters, etc.

Newspapers and magazines must not be provided in the Terminal.

Golf cart facilities must be provided for people with limited mobility.

Safe and proper disposal of all categories of waste must be ensured.

Airports must also set up de-gowning areas at appropriate locations for staff, airline crew.

Open air ventilators must be used instead of ACs.

Entire terminal disinfection should be performed using approved disinfectants.

Employees showing symptoms such as high fever, difficulty breathing, cough etc must not be allowed to work.,

Gatherings of staff must be prohibited.

All retail outlets at the airport must be opened with precautions, and digital payment must be promoted.

At the boarding gates, passengers must be asked to board in batches to prevent clusters.

If any of the staff comes with contact with patients, they must be quarantined.

ARRIVAL:

Passengers shall be deplaned sequentially and shall be disembarked in batches.

Social distance markings should be made available for passengers.

Again, information regarding social distancing and other protective measures should be displayed on boards.

At each point of interaction with passengers, airport operator should try to provide a glass shied for protection of passengers and personnel.

Social distancing markings should be provided around the baggage collection carousal.

All luggage must be disinfected before handing to passengers.

Staff should be provided to ensure people maintain social distancing.

Every nook and cranny of the terminal must be sanitized before arrival of the flights and after the last passenger leaves.

Car parking and city side traffic must be monitored so that social distancing is maintained.

Fumigation of the kerb-side/landside commercial service outlets ad associated queuing areas is to be carried out regularly to disinfect.

Fumigation of the passenger drop off/pick up zone on the land side, normally used by the taxi/cab operators ad private commuters is to be carried out at regular intervals.

A dedicated triage/isolation area in the terminal building/city side as per area available at respective airports is to be made available as per requirement of health authorities with primary medical facility for suspected/confirmed Covid-19 patients which can even be located at the meet and greet area as per availability.

Upon arrival, passengers have to adhere to health protocols as prescribed by the destination stated and union territories.