Masks to baggage: India's new rules for flying in coronavirus times

Flyers must have the Aarogya Setu, the government's coronavirus tracing app, and they must be medically fit.

India's Civil Aviation Ministry has released a set of guidelines for domestic air travel when it resumes on May 25, Monday. According to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), passengers must have the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones which has to be verified by CISF or airport staff at the entry gate. However, Aarogya Setu app is not mandatory for children below 14 years of age.

Social distancing, usage of authorised taxis for commute and more usage of digital payments are some of the norms laid out by the ministry. Following is the detailed list of guidelines by the ministry.

FROM ORIGIN TO THE AIRPORT

• Passengers should familiarize themselves about the new procedures at the airport.
• Especially, about the norms of social distancing, minimum touch, baggage limitations, Covid-I9 declaration, registering on Aarogya Setu app, digital payments, use of authorized taxis. Expect slower processes and hence avoid last-minute reaching the airport.
• Passengers should download the baggage tag/baggage identification number.
• In the initial stage, the passengers would be entitled to carry a maximum of one hand baggage and one checked-in baggage as per the specifications by the airline of his travel.
• Passengers, before entering the terminal, to ensure the wearing of protective gear, as per the prevailing requirements. He will continue to wear the mask throughout the journey.
• The passengers would be required to report at the airport as per revised reporting time i.e, D - 2 hours.
• The passengers should travel in an authorised taxi/personal vehicle following the norms specified by MHA.
• The passengers shall not travel if he/she is staying in a containment zone. Also, they should not travel if they have been tested positive for Covid-19. The passengers are expected to certify the status of their health through the Aarogya Setu app or a self-declaration form.
• If a passenger who is not permitted to fly, undertakes an air journey he/she shall be liable for penal action.
• The airlines shall ensure that the boarding pass is issued only after the declaration given above has been made by the passenger. In case of a PNR having more than one passenger, the declaration would be deemed to be covering all the passengers mentioned in the PNR.
• The passenger shall print the baggage tag and affix it on the bag at a prominent place. In case he/she is not able to print the baggage tag the PNR number and the name of the passenger (as mentioned in the ticket) should be boldly written on a piece of thick paper and affixed to the bag or tag it with the help of a strong string.

ENTERING THE TERMINAL BUILDING

• The passenger should get down from his/her vehicle with the face mask on and with the required documents/e-documents. He would continue to wear his mask throughout the journey.
• He/she walk in the forecourt area and arrive at the thermal screenings facility near the entry gate.
• He should get himself/herself checked for temperature. This will be done by designated staff of the airport.
• The status of Aarogya Setu app should be displayed to the staff.
• In case of non-availability of Aarogya Setu, the passenger should be facilitated to go a counter provided by the airport where Aarogya Setu can be downloaded.
• The passenger shall, then, move to the CISF counter at the entry checkpoint.
• He/she shall display/show his identity card, the boarding pass/e-boarding pass to the CISF staff.
• The CISF staff on confirming the identity of the person shall allow him/her in.
• The passenger shall then proceed to the baggage drop counter.
• At the baggage drop counter, the passenger shall display the PNR and his/her identification to the staff. The passenger shall also show/indicate the PNR number written or printed on his/her baggage to the staff. Upon confirmation, the staff shall print the baggage tag attach it on the bag and accept the bag.
• Instead of issuing a printed receipt to the passengers, an electronic receipt in the form of an SMS shall be sent to the passenger.

SECURITY

• Arrangements have been made at airports to guide passengers to walk through the pre-embarkation security screening.
• Passengers should follow the directions as announced by the authorities.
• Passengers should divest of all metal on their body to facilitate security screening. Also, bring only one hand luggage as per specified size allowed by the airlines.
• Security staff will practice 'minimum touch' concept to reduce physical contact with the passengers. Passengers to cooperate with security staff by following the instructions for their own safety and security.

SECURITY HOLD AREA

• Passengers to proceed to the security hold area after security screening.
• While waiting in the security hold area they should maintain social distancing and sanitization protocols- Chairs marked 'Not For Use' should not be occupied.
• While going around F&B, retail outlets, etc. passengers are required to maintain hygiene and should be aware of the social distancing and locations where sanitizer would be available.
• Passengers should dispose of all the biohazardous material like used masks, gloves, tissues etc. in the yellow-coloured disposable bins/bags placed at strategic locations at the airport.

BOARDING

• Passenger should give attention to the various communication materials displayed at the airport about various health advisories relating to pre-boarding and during the flight precautions.
• Passenger to collect the safety kit (three-layered sugical masks, face shield and sanitizer) from the airlines near the boarding eate. They should wear mask, face shield and sanitize their hands before proceeding to the boarding gate for scarning of the boarding pass.
• Passenger should give attention to boarding announcements and reach the boarding queue by following distancing.
• Check-in of the boarding pass would be done by the passenger by self-scanning of e-boarding pass.
• Passengers would be required to show their ID card to the airline staff at the boarding gale.
• Passenger to board the aircraft in a sequential manner as per the announcement by the airlines.

IN THE AIRCRAFT

• Throughout the flight, hygiene and sanitation to be maintained by the passengers.
• Face to face interaction to be minimized.
• Passengers are advised to minimize the use of lavatory and to avoid any nonessential movement in the aisles.
• No queuing at the lavatory and only one companion for children and the elderly to be allowed.
• No meal services world be made available in the aircraft.
• Water bottle to be made available in the gallery area or on the seats. Passengers would not be permitted to consume any eatables inside the aircraft during the flight.
• There would be no on-board sale of any item to minimize the physical contacts.
• If any passenger feels uncomfortable, fatigued or has a cough, it should be bought to the notice of the crew for handling the passenger.

ARRIVAL

• The disembarkation from the airlines would be sequential and passengers are advised to follow the instructions and not to rush to the exit gate.
• Social distance/sanitation should be maintained at the arrival gate, aerobridges, coaches, jet ladders, ramps etc
• Trolleys in the arrival area to be used sparingly

BAGGAGE COLLECTION

• Passenger to wait at the baggage hold area till the baggage arives in batches.
• Transit passenger will not be allowed to come out of the transit area.

EXIT FROM AIRPORT

• Passenger should use the authorized taxi maintaining the prescribed hygiene protocols. Only authorized taxis are allowed for taking the passenger from the airpod.
• Passengers are advised to follow the social distancing and hygiene while travelling in any mode oftansportation.
• On arrival at their destination, the havelling passenges will have to adhere to such health protocols as are prescribed by the destination state/UT.

OTHER GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Passengers should reach the airport two hours before the scheduled time of departure and passengers who have departed in the next four hours will only be allowed to enter the Terminal Building.
• Wearing of protective gear, such as mask, gloves, is compulsory for all passengers.
• All the departing passengers must be compulsorily be registered with 'Aarogya Setu' App.
• The app is, however, not mandatory for children below the age of 14 years.
• Passengers with red status in Aarogya Setu App would not be permitted to travel.
• The passengers will be required to compulsorily walk through screening zone for thermal screening at a designated place in the city side before entering the terminal building.
• On the day of commencement of flights, only limited operations (about 1/3rd) would be permitted. Further augmentation of flight will be done in a caliberated manner.
• The airlines will not provide meal services on board.
• The cabin crew are required to be in full protective gear.
• Only one check-in bag will be allowed. Use of baggae and trolleys should be minimised.
• The state governments and local administration shall ensure the availability of proper public transport and private taxies for providing connectivity for passengers and airport staff.
• For commuting to and from the airport, both by staff and passengers, only the personal vehicles or select authorised taxi service/transport services with restricted seating to be permitted.
• Hand sanitiser shall be made available airport operator for passengers and airport staff at various locations.
• All F&B and retail outlets to be opened with Covid-19 precautions. Take-away to be encouraged to prevent crowding. Promote digital payment system, self-ordering booths at F&B and retail outlets.