These Are The Terms, Rules For Resuming Flights

The International Civil Aviation Organization set new health conditions and recommendations, on Tuesday, for the aviation sector that seeks to resume its activity amid the emerging Covid19 crisis, as it warned of the necessity of using masks, checking passengers’ temperature and sterilizing planes before every takeoff.

The organization stated on its official page that the recommendations will serve as a “framework” to ensure the safety of passengers and workers onboard planes and at airports, as passengers are forced upon their arrival at the airport to present a health certificate and undergo a preliminary examination of body temperature.

Priority must be given to registering travellers online before arriving at the airport, and security inspection corridors should be reconsidered to reduce physical contact and waiting lines, as it indicates the need to download travel tickets on the phone and other forms of non-touch technology, such as the face or eye scanning. This would “significantly eliminate or reduce the need to touch travel documents between staff and passengers” as directed.

The rules also encourage passengers to travel with the least possible load with a small handbag, newspapers and magazines will not be allowed on board of the planes, and free-market sales will be limited.

And to that, it will be mandatory to wear a mask inside the plane and at the airports, where the physical distance must be adhered to at least a meter. Entrance to the airports will be restricted to passengers and their companions, such as those accompanying people with special needs and airport personnel.

Onboard planes, passengers are required to wear masks, to move around as little as possible in the cabin, and not to line up in front of toilets to reduce the risk of transmission to others. Certain toilets will be allocated to them according to their seats. The air hosts will be provided with personal protection supplies that may include face masks, gloves and medical masks.

However, ICAO does not recommend maintaining an empty seat between two seats to ensure the physical spacing, which the aviation sector considers a threat to profitability. Rather, the organization requires passengers to stay away from each other as far as possible, while recommending that food be prepackaged and that the plane is sterilized regularly. Passengers’ temperature must also be checked on arrival.