By Recto Mercene & Ashley Manabat
IF airline passengers are endlessly miffed by multiple security and body checks at airports adopted in the aftermath of 9/11, new intrusive layers of protocols have been added to our Calvary of woes, this time due to the deadly novel coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).
We must accept out of necessity and survival the “new normal” as the words are being bandied about, and enter a world of inconveniences that we must endure until an effective vaccine comes along to slay this invisible enemy.
The debate on the future of air travel has focused on how to achieve physical distancing, disinfection, hygiene and operating economics, among others.
“For travelers, the entire journey is only as safe as its weakest link, between origin and destination the key ingredient of that journey is passing through at least two airports, on departure and arrival. Ideally, that experience should be standard—and safe,” according to CAPA, or Centre for Aviation, one of the world’s most trusted sources of market intelligence for the aviation and travel industry. Airports are going to have to make extensive changes to the way passengers are handled, avoiding queues, social distancing, touch-less check-in, just to name a few.
The ‘crusade’
Surely, this is not the world we envisioned as we greeted the Year of the Rat, buoyed by the rosy predictions of crystal ball gazers and feng shui masters. Suddenly the world comes to a screeching standstill and we must learn how to deal with it.
Air travel as we know it will no longer be the same and the transformation has breached borders involving multisectoral institutions, including government, aviation industry, tourism agencies, destination management organizations, and the hospitality sector.
The current safety crusade is led by the International Civil Aviation Authority (Icao), the International Air Transport Association (Iata), and the World Health Organization (WHO). These guardians need to come up with aviation-specific guidelines with the objective of ensuring appropriate planning and execution at all levels in order to mitigate the effects of the outbreak and restore consumer confidence.
New airline and airport protocols will affect all travelers—from the time of booking for a flight until one reaches one’s destination —and the BusinessMirror is tallying these new paradigms as a guide once regular flights resume.
“We advise our guests to check their travel eligibility as the very first step,” says Qatar Airways, adding different countries are imposing different regulations. “It would be wise to consult with the latest edicts from local governments on travel restrictions via the Internet.”
“Check in online before you leave home,” advises Philippine Airlines (PAL), telling guests to come as early as three hours before flights, for domestic, and four hours for international destinations, the same advice offered by Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia.
The airline new normal may include:
1. Cabin crew required to wear disposable, full-body protective gear during flights
2. Passengers to wear face coverings which they have to provide themselves
3. Thermal scanning prior to boarding
4. Seating arrangement that would factor in social distancing
5. Prepacked meals
6. Hand sanitizers available in-flight
7. Online and digital booking and check-in
8. Regular disinfection of the aircraft’s cabin and restrooms
9. Use of high-efficiency air filters in aircraft
Cabin crew on PPE
Qatar Airways is also implementing several changes, including the introduction of personal protective equipment (PPE) suits for cabin crew while onboard, as well as a modified service that reduces interaction between the passengers and the cabin crew.
These precautions are also adopted by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Philippines AirAsia. Their cabin crew are told “to wear the PPE suit over their uniforms in addition to safety goggles, gloves and a mask to provide even greater reassurance to customers.”
Cebu’s response
In preparation for the lifting of travel restrictions and the return of air services to Cebu, Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), through its operator GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), released the following new normal measures:
1. Compulsory use of face masks for all passengers and airport employees
2. Mandatory body temperature checks for all passengers and airport employees at all airport entry points
3. Hand sanitizing and shoe disinfection for all passengers and employees prior to terminal entry
4. Social distancing of three to six feet in queuing points and a one-seat-apart policy in waiting areas
5. Visible floor markings to guide the passengers while queuing at high-traffic areas
6. No-touch airport procedures, including security checks and check-in
7. Gradual aircraft boarding and disembarkation procedures to avoid any queue formation and congestion.
8. All passengers and employees to always keep right when traversing walkways and lanes.
9. Regular disinfection of passenger areas and terminal facilities
10. Protective clear shield in all check-in counters
11. Medical isolation room for the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to conduct quarantine assessment
12. Posting of health information materials and safety reminders in strategic locations
GMCAC Chief Executive Advisor Andrew Harrison asked for the public’s cooperation in the implementation of the above measures at Cebu airport. In particular, he further asked for the public’s support in limiting the number of well-wishers for departing passengers to one companion per passenger. “This will go a long way in helping us avoid close proximity crowding anywhere on the airport premises,” Harrison said.
Lipad at CRK
The Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (Lipad), which is in charge of the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Clark International Airport, is also preparing for the new normal.
“We did a series of meetings with all stakeholders [government agencies, airlines, locators and service providers] in order to align our preparations for the new normal while continuously following government directives,” said Teri Flores, Lipad spokesman.
Some of the “new normal” preparations at Clark that are being implemented right now are the following:
1. Installation of social-distancing floor markers and signage
2. Installation of acrylic partitions on check-in counters
3. General cleaning and disinfection
4. Provision and guidelines of the proper wearing of PPEs among airport employees
“The key is we’re in constant communication with our partners and stakeholders,” she said.
Air filtration
Airlines have equipped their airplanes with high-efficiency particulate air filters, or HEPA filters. These remove over 99 percent of viral and bacterial contaminants from recirculated air, providing the most effective protection against infection. In other words, although the coronavirus is microscopically tiny, airplane cabin filters are fine enough to catch many kinds of virus, the novel coronavirus included.
These filtration systems then filter and recirculate the air from the cabin and mix it with fresh air, making it very clean. All modern aircraft, passengers and crew breathe a mixture of fresh and recirculated air. Using this combination rather than fresh air makes it easier to regulate temperature and help maintain a bit of humidity.
Clean linen, ear buds
For Qatar Airways, onboard linen and blankets are washed, dried and pressed at microbial “lethal temperatures” (since it’s been known that hot water kills the coronavirus). Ear foams are removed after each use and rigorously sanitized after each flight.
These items are then sealed into individual packaging by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves. Cabin crew have been trained how to minimize their chances of contracting or spreading the infection, and “are thermally screened before the departure of flights and after their arrival.” They are quarantined and tested if any colleagues or passengers on a flight shows any symptoms of infection or tests positive for the virus.
PAL advertises its rigorous cabin cleaning and disinfection, such that crew are in full PPE, offering simplified meal, or snack service, social distancing cabin seating options and the HEPA filters to purify cabin air. “All pilots and cabin crew will undergo rapid antibody tests before they are assigned to operate flights. All operating crew will don PPE while on duty,” says PAL President Gilbert Santa Maria.
Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific (CEB) ground staff are likewise required to don PPEs while on duty. Cleaning and disinfection procedures have been ramped up for all CEB facilities and equipment such as self-check-in kiosks, check-in and bag-drop counters and shuttle buses. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers will be provided for all passengers and staff at the airport and inside the aircraft. The carrier is rolling out “contactless flights” that will minimize face-to-face contact between ground staff and passengers while physical distancing is observed.
“We are implementing these procedures to assure our passengers and give them the confidence to travel again,” said Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and customer experience at Cebu Pacific.
AirAsia Chief Operations Officer Javed Malik said their aircraft have adopted “contactless technology—use Web, or mobile check-in, to reduce surface and physical contact,” adding cabin crew are also updated with the latest safety information and guidelines before each flight. Onboard meals are made in accordance with food safety standards.
Food and beverage service will be handled using gloves. Crew are well trained to assist with any medical situation inflight, including identification and isolation of anyone onboard who may feel unwell.
Naia welcomes returning OFWs
THESE days, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) requires that all arriving passengers will have to undergo a swab test for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) Covid-19 testing administered by the BOQ. While awaiting test results, passengers must stay either in a government-designated quarantine facility, or at a BOQ-approved quarantine hotel.
For overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), payment for accommodation in a government-designated quarantine facility shall be shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), for land-based, and by the Maritime Industry Authority, or by the local manning agency, for sea-based Filipino workers. All other travelers (Filipino or foreign national) will pay for the cost of their accommodation.
Travelers whose test results are positive will be transferred to a designated hospital for further medical management. Those found negative will be allowed to move out and undergo a 14-day quarantine “at home, or at an appropriate local monitoring facility.”
Not the same as it used to be
Airlines and airports all over the world are all preparing for the new normal. There will be variations in the technology and the processes. Some may start earlier than the others, but one thing is certain: traveling will never be as it used to be. As travelers, we have to adjust to this new normal until the world is rid of the plague and until our liberty to travel wherever and whenever is restored.
Image credits: AP/Charlie Riedel
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