Indian airports plan new norms before resuming operations

NEW DELHI: Airports in India are planning policies on how to function when they resume operations in the post-lockdown period amid unusual business conditions. New airport policies include social distancing norms and sanitation stands at regular intervals across the airports, among other Covid-19 safety measures.

Airports are expecting fewer footfall for an entire year after the lockdown. In such a situation, airports need to accommodate revenue losses to the management and the retail ecosystem that functions at airports to serve the passengers. However, fewer footfall would mean that it would be easier for airports to handle the crowd and easily implement all safety measures to fight the pandemic. The Airport Council International (ACI), a group of the world’s largest airports, estimates that footfall at airports in Asia would reduce by 40 per cent in 2020.

“Several airports have already started marking various contact points for making zones for social distancing,” said Arvind Singh, Chairman, Airport Authority of India (AAI). The Delhi Airport, India’s largest airport in terms of passenger capacity, said that it has already deployed a team of 500 professionals to carry out sanitation and disinfection every hour throughout the airport premises. The airport will also employ additional queue managers at entry, exit, boarding point, check-in halls, security check areas and boarding gates, with social distancing markers and reminders.

“We are conducting training and assessments of key service personnel, check on major facilities and performing risk evaluations to prepare for resuming operations. We will leave no stone unturned when it comes to the well-being of its passengers, said Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO at Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

Anticipating the spread of coronavirus via travellers, Mumbai airport has set up quarantine centres at both its terminals. In case patients develop symptoms of the disease, they will be quarantined at these centres. The airport has also made screening at airports compulsory for all passengers and advises them to carry less luggage and wear masks.

Hyderabad airport has opted for actively promoting its digital entrance facility using which, passengers can self-check-in, self bag-tag and travel without a printed boarding pass at airports.