Domestic Flights' Resumption: AAI Issues SOPs To Airports

The Directorate of Operations of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has, on Thursday, announced the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for re-commencement of domestic flights scheduled to be done in a calibrated manner from May 25.

Departure

• The AAI SOP spells out that passengers should reach the airport two hours before the scheduled time of departure and that only such passengers whose departure is scheduled in the next four hours will be allowed to enter the terminal building.

• All passengers are mandated to wear protective gear such as mask and gloves.

• All passengers must necessarily be registered with Aarogya Setu App on their mobiles and show it for verification to CISF/airport staff at the entry point. However the app is not mandatory for children below 14.

• Thermal screening stations will be set up by the airport operator through which passengers will compulsorily walk through. Passengers whose status is not green on the Aarogya Setu app will not be allowed to enter. Temperature screening will be carried out with validated equipment and trained manpower by the airport operator.

• The SOP leaves it to the state governments and local administration to ensure proper public transport and private taxis for vital connectivity to the airport for passengers as well as airport and airline staff.

• Pavement area traffic from the city side/ car parking area should be monitored strictly in coordination with traffic police/CISF staff to prevent crowding and to maintain social distancing.

• Passenger seating will be done in a manner so as to maintain social distancing among passengers.

• The AAI guidelines spell out detailed SOP for check-in counters, use of hand sanitisers, cleanliness and sanitisation of the terminal building and public areas, among other things.