Covid-19: Airport & Airline Updates.

USEFUL LINKS:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

AIRPORT LINKS:

AIRLINES:

Air Canada

At the airport:

All passengers will receive an email in advance of departure should their flight be reaching capacity giving them options to change their travel arrangements allowing for more social distancing
No-contact temperature check at check-in
Virtual queuing in place of physical line-ups to minimise wait times and contact at select counters
Touch-free check-in at select airports which includes ‘TouchFree’ Bag Check service’. Indicate the number of checked bags during mobile check-in, print your bag tags from dedicated kiosks, then drop off your bags using ‘TouchFree’ Bag Drop
All passengers must wear a face mask
Hand Sanitizer’s placed in key areas such as Check-In desks, departure gates & lounges
AC Agents will ask passengers who appear unwell a series of medical questions. If unfit to travel will not be allowed to board
All Air Canada lounges are temporarily closed, including Maple Leaf Lounges, Signature Suites, and the Air Canada Café
Adjusted boarding process to allow for social distancing

In the air:

As of July 1, gate announcements will be made to advise Economy Class customers if their flight is reaching capacity. This is to allow passengers to explore other options should they prefer more space onboard
Physical distancing onboard – gate staff can re-assign seating for individual passengers to ensure fewer passengers are seated near each other (passengers on the same booking will not be moved)
All high-touch areas are sanitised with a hospital-grade disinfectant before every flight (this includes all windows, shades, seat belt buckles, armrests, and seat controls), as well as each time an aircraft overnights it receives a thorough cleaning (including overhead luggage bins)
In Premium Economy and Economy Class, pillows and blankets will no longer be available. In Air Canada Signature Class only blankets will be offered (Pillows and blankets provided are wrapped and sealed)
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are used which effectively capture 99.9% of airborne particles onboard. This includes microbial organisms such as bacteria and viruses
On flights where complimentary meals are offered, pre-packaged meals will be provided for safety, with an antiseptic wipe included in the meal box. all tray tables before boarding
- Bar service will be combined with meal service to minimise contact
- Only pre-packaged food will be provided in all cabins. Unable to accommodate any special meal requests
- Bar service will be limited to water only

All passengers are given disposable Customer Care Kits which includes a complimentary mask, gloves, bottled water, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, headset, and snack

After every flight:

All aircraft are cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants with wide-spectrum microbial activity, proven effective against coronaviruses.
If informed by an appropriate health authority that a potentially infected passenger has been on an aircraft, it is taken out of service for deep grooming as per PHAC guidance

In general:

Air Canada have introduced their own ‘Clean Care+’ program an industry-leading program committed to end-to-end health and safety protocols. using new biosafety standards and enhancing preventive measures.

Air France / KLM

At the airport:

Social distancing at check-in, gates, service, and transfer desks
Airport Lounges are open however with timing restrictions.
As of 11 May, it is compulsory for all passengers over the age of 10 years old to wear a face mask. Should you be exempt you are required to complete an online document that needs to be signed by your doctor AND have a PCR test within 72hours of departure. For the latest information on this please check before you fly.
Ground markings, signs & transparent screens are in place to ensure physical distancing
A zone boarding process is now in place. Your ‘zone’ number will be shown on your boarding pass; the zone depends on your travel class, fare type and frequent flyer level. Passengers in zone 1 are the first to board, followed by zones 2 through 5

In the air:

Social distancing onboard where possible.
All crew will wear mouth caps and protective gloves
Extra hygiene equipment on board, such as hand sanitizers, highly efficient filters to filter the air of potentially harmful particles and viruses.
Meal services will differ for European & International flights and dependant on the cabin. in all cabins will be served in a pre-packed box.
European Flights – Meals served in a box with limited choices
International Flights – Econ meals are served boxed / Business Class meals are pre-plated with tray service.
No special meals requests can be accepted at this time.

All aircraft are equipped with ‘Coronakits ’ should a passenger unexpectedly show any signs of illness during the flight. These kits contain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for passengers and our staff to limit the risk of infection on board.

British Airways

At the airport:

BA Airport lounges have recently been subject to closure or opened for restricted timings only:
Galleries T5 South Club remains open during hours of 05:00 – 17:00
Galleries T5 First – remains open during hours of 05:00 – 22:00
Galleries T5 North lounge will be closed until further notice.
Several measures have been introduced to ensure the health, well-being and safety of passengers including Safe distancing marking, sanitising stations and to minimise contact, they have launched a new online site ‘Your Menu’ where you’ll be able to order your own food and drink and which (once it’s been submitted) will be brought directly to you
Safe distance markers and sanitising stations are located throughout the airport.
Online check-in is recommended. Self-check-in kiosks and bag drop available. desks
All passengers are always required to wear a face mask

In the air:

Once onboard the aircraft, passengers will be offered a personal protection pack which contains an antibacterial wipe and hand sanitiser gel as well as a sealable disposal bag to dispose of any personal protective equipment you may have e.g. face mask
No menus will be handed out onboard. Cabin Crew will advise of meal options available
Enhance aircraft cleaning – the key surfaces on all aircraft after every flight incl headrest, seatbelts & buckles, tray tables, storage areas & toilets. The whole aircraft is deep cleaned at the end of each day.
BA’s ‘buy on board’ short-haul service will be temporarily suspended; passengers will be provided with a complimentary meal & selection of beverages instead
Passengers in all cabins will be offered the relevant meal option for the class of travel along with a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The alcoholic drinks will be served either as miniatures or individual quarter bottles
No special meal request can currently be accommodated – only Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian
Onboard magazines and newspapers have temporarily been removed
Onboard duty-free shopping has temporarily been closed
Complimentary washbag will still be offered to First, Club & World Traveller Plus passengers on long haul flights.
Blankets and bedding will only be available on long haul flights, all will be individually wrapped to guarantee cleanliness

In general:

All aircraft are fitted with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to remove particulate and bacterial contamination and provide passengers with clean air inside the cabin.

Cathay Pacific

At the airport:

Online check-in & Self-check-in facilities in place to minimise contact.
As of 29 May 2020, all passengers are required to answer health screening questions upon check-in at worldwide airports including Hong Kong
All passengers are required to wear face coverings in situations where they cannot maintain a physical distance of 2 meters during check-in, in airport lounges, at boarding gates and in the cabin and on disembarkment
E-boarding coming soon to Hong Kong & many other departure points.
Temperature checks have been implemented for all arriving, departing and transiting passengers at Hong Kong International Airport. Passengers will also have their temperature checked before boarding all Cathay flights in the UK and North America
Hand sanitisers are available at many high touchpoints throughout Hong Kong International Airport
All Cathay Pacific lounges – except for The Wing First and Business and Shanghai Pudong – have temporarily closed

In the air:

Cathay has ranked in the top 10 of Skytrax’s ‘World’s Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness’ list for five consecutive years and has now introduced further cleaning policies. including strict disinfection of surfaces and fixtures such as personal television screens, meal tables, baby bassinet tables, and armrests across the aircraft after every flight
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arresters) aircraft filtration systems filter 99.999% of dust particles and airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria, ensuring the highest possible quality of cabin air
Modified food & beverage service designed to reduce contact with the crew
Temporary suspension of pre-meal drinks and pre-poured drinks (drinks will be available onboard)
Hot towels, pillows, blankets, magazines and inflight duty-free sales have also been suspended temporarily
Thorough sanitisation of all surfaces onboard – from inflight screens to air conditioning controls between every flight
Blocking of seats when possible to ensure social distancing
All cabin crew will wear full masks, gloves & goggles

After every flight:

On arrival, a health declaration form must be completed and submitted to the Hong Kong Department of health
Mandatory face coverings and temperature checks for all passengers, crew & staff on arrival.
Strict cleaning processes are in place including sterilisation robots at the airport.
Onboard each aircraft strict disinfection of surfaces and fixtures such as personal television screens, meal tables, baby bassinet tables, and armrests across the aircraft after every flight.
Strict layover guidelines for all cabin crew including no contact with the local community and close medical surveillance
All crews are involved in a trial of a full-body disinfection channel on arrival.

Delta Airlines

At the airport:

Face coverings are required from check-in and across Delta touch points including Delta Sky Clubs, boarding gate areas, jet bridges and onboard the aircraft for the duration of the flight – except during meal service.
All high touch areas including self-check-in kiosks, check-in desks, departure gates are regularly cleaned.
Plexiglass shields are in place at all Delta counters.
All passengers much confirm at check-in, that they have not experienced symptoms or been exposed to COVID-19 within 4 days.
Sanitising dispensers are located by all high-touch areas.
Delta One lounges are open however with reduced facilities along with amended food & beverage offerings of a ‘grab & go’ service. Touchless check-in in place along with plexiglass screens where needed. Showers are currently closed.

In the air:

All flights have a new strict ‘boarding from back-to-front’ policy. With a max of 10 passengers to board at any one time.
Sanitising all flights before boarding with electrostatic sprayers
Care kits are provided for customers on long-haul international flights include hand cleanser or cleansing towelettes
Cleaning cabin air with advanced air filtration systems known as HEPA filters
Requiring all customers to wear a face-covering throughout the entire journey.
Reducing capacity in all cabins to ensure passenger social distancing
Changes have been put in place with onboard food and beverage services on long-haul international flights – to reduce physical contact

In general:

Delta’s Air Crew and Passenger Health Services team has a close relationship with the CDC and WHO, and they’ve increased their contact as guidance evolves to ensure we are taking all necessary precautions for healthy flying. As such, all health and safety processes meet the high standards of these organizations.

Etihad

At the airport:

It is mandatory to have a COVID-19 PCR test before you fly. Depending on where you are flying to or from, your test must be carried out between 48, 72 or 96 hours ahead of your flight departure time. Always check in advance.

Your test can be taken at any government accredited medical facility. Guests departing Pakistan and India must use an Etihad approved medical facility.
Children under 12 and people with severe and moderate disabilities are exempt from COVID-19 PCR testing, though this is subject to the regulations at your destination.
Remember to print your test result as you will be required to present it for validation at check-in. You must present a medical certificate or other relevant documents, clearly stating the type of test and the result.

Etihad ‘Wellness Ambassadors’ at Abu Dhabi Airport, onboard every aircraft ensuring that the increased hygiene measures are being followed, that passengers have all the information they require while travelling with Etihad, as well as what to do when you reach your destination
Abu Dhabi lounge is open and has new safety measures that ensure social distancing
If you’re flying to Abu Dhabi, you’ll undergo thermal screening and COVID-19 PCR testing when you arrive in Abu Dhabi International Airport. This applies to all guests, excluding children under 12
All transfer buses, coaches and cars are deep-cleaned and sanitised after every trip. Chauffeurs sit behind a protective screen
Additional stringent cleaning measures have been put in place both onboard and on the ground before departure & on arrival at each destination
Ground-handling teams follow strict cleaning procedures to disinfect all high touch surfaces

In the air:

Social distancing onboard every aircraft
All cabins have been refreshed with new seat covers and carpets
All aircraft are also equipped with HEPA air filters which capture 99% of airborne microbes
Wellness Kits are available onboard for all guests, including a face mask, gloves, and hand gel

After every flight:

All aircraft are deep cleaned and sanitised on arrival at each destination

In general:

COVID-19 global wellness insurance cover is included with every Etihad Airways ticket giving you extra peace of mind as you travel the world. If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 whilst you’re away, they take care of your medical expenses and quarantine costs.
Etihad has introduced a specially trained team of ‘Wellness Ambassadors’ that are available online before you travel at AUH Airport and on all flights.
All aircraft are fitted with High-Efficiency Particle Filters (HEPA), which renew the entire cabin’s air every two to four minutes. These air filtration systems are very effective, eliminating more than 99.8% of all airborne microbes, including dust, germs and pathogens

Japan Airlines

On the ground:

Passengers now required to check-in online before their arrival at the airport.
Airport staff to wear face masks or face guards
Cabin crew to wear gloves when serving meals & beverages
Passengers are required to wear a face mask when travelling on JAL
Partitions to be installed at airport counters, lounges, & baggage reclaim areas which are regularly cleaned & disinfected
International flights to be disinfected every day, with Japan domestic flights to be disinfected overnight
Hand sanitizer stations available at all stages of the journey: airport counters, lounges, boarding gate, on-board aircraft, and in baggage reclaim areas
antibacterial hand wipes provided in all aircraft cabins
Thermal testing has been implemented at Tokyo Haneda Airport.
Lounges open with precautionary measures in place.

In the sky:

Temporary seat assignment restrictions, where selected seats are blocked to allow more personal space inside the aircraft cabin for social distancing. Applicable to Premium Economy & Economy on international flights, and all classes of travel on Japan domestic routes
Staggered boarding with passengers to be invited to board the aircraft 10 – 20 people at a time
Antibacterial hand wipes provided in all aircraft cabins
Aircraft areas to be disinfected include seat tables, armrests, IFE monitors/controllers, lavatories and/or any areas where customers may touch during a flight
Cabin crew to wear face masks or face guards at all times & gloves when serving food & beverages.
Each aircraft in JAL’s fleet is installed with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter system designed to capture at least 99.97 per cent of fine airborne particles to maintain the cabin`s air purity levels
The inside of the JAL cabin is ventilated with fresh air from outside every two to three minutes

Qatar Airways

At the airport:

Hand sanitisers available at airport lounges.
Check-in online and check the baggage restrictions at your destination – some may not allow hand baggage. You can print your Q-baggage tag at home to minimise contact at the airport.
Arrive 3 hours prior to departure to allow for the additional safety measures.

In the air:

Cabin crew will wear disposable, full-body protective clothing during flights
All passengers must wear face a covering. Face shields will be distributed at the airport and are to be worn when boarding and disembarking.
- Economy Class are required to wear them on board except when eating or drinking
- Business Class passengers are asked to wear them at their own discretion
Hepa Air Filters Installed – These filters remove 99.97% of viral & bacterial contaminants – providing the most effective protection against infection
All linen washed and dried at 90 degrees Celsius and are individually wrapped
Hand sanitisers available onboard for passengers& crew
Business-class meals will be served on a tray (not set up on the table)
All headsets are sanitised and wrapped wearing gloves
Social areas onboard have been closed off
All arriving passengers from infected countries are screened at Hamad Intl Airport

In general:

Qatar Airways continues to implement the highest standards of health and safety. All aircraft are regularly disinfected using cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Its home airport, Hamad International Airport, has also invested in deploying disinfectant robots, fully autonomous mobile emitting concentrated UV-C light known to be effective in eliminating the majority of infectious microorganisms.

Scandinavian Airlines

At the airport:

It is mandatory for all travellers from the age of 6 years to wear face masks from boarding to disembarkation on all SAS aircraft. PLEASE NOTE: SAS does not accept self-made face masks, scarfs, theatre masks. Travellers without the correct masks will be denied boarding
Limit on hand baggage currently in place. 1 piece per person, 8KG max weight & size dimensions 55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm (length x width x depth).
Airport lounges are Oslo, Copenhagen & Stockholm have re-opened offering limited food & beverage services (no alcohol).
Unaccompanied minors are not permitted at this time.

In the air:

New boarding routines to ensure social distancing during boarding and de-boarding – Boarding will be called by ‘zone’
From 01 Nov minimal food & beverage will be served onboard however this varies on the passenger loads as to the meal service provided. No alcohol will be served.
You are allowed to bring light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages onboard SAS flights. (i.e.: light snacks include a chocolate bar, a sandwich or similar) Take-away items are NOT permitted.
All non-essential loose items have been removed – such as magazines, pillows, blankets and trays
Cabin baggage is limited to one piece per traveller

In general:

All aircraft are cleaned and disinfected according to new industry regulations
All aircraft are equipped with highly efficient air filters.
From 18th May to 31 August 2020 a face mask covering the mouth and nose is required for all passengers from boarding to disembarkation on all SAS flights. Please Note: SAS does not accept self-made face masks, scarfs, theatre masks, or that passengers pull up the sweater instead of wearing a mask. Passengers without suitable face mask are offered rebooking alternatives free of charge on a later SK flight.

United Airlines

At the airport:

Implementing temperature checks for employees and flight attendants working at hub airports
Installing sneeze guards at check-in and gate podiums
Temporarily shutting down select self-service kiosks
Adding a step to the check-in process that requires you to acknowledge you don’t have symptoms for COVID-19 and agree to follow our policies
Promoting social distancing with floor signs to help customers stand 6 feet apart
Introducing touchless check-in for customers with bags
Disinfecting high-touch areas such as door handles, handrails, elevator buttons, telephones, and computers
Providing hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes
Allowing customers to self-scan boarding passes

In the air:

Providing individual hand sanitizer wipes for customers as you board the aircraft
Requiring all customers and employees to wear a face covering and providing disposable face coverings for customers who need them
Reducing touchpoints by temporarily shutting down self-service kiosks, asking you to scan your boarding pass and encouraging you to use united.com or the United app
Providing pillows and blankets upon request only on international flights out of our hub airports
Disinfecting high-touch areas, like tray tables and armrests, before boarding
Using electrostatic spraying on all aircraft before departure for enhanced cabin sanitation
Reducing contact between flight attendants and customers during snack and beverage service by Introducing an “all-in-one” snack bag that includes a wrapped sanitizer wipe, 8.5-ounce bottled water, stroopwafel and package of pretzels. For domestic flights between 1 hour and 2 hours and 20 minutes, passengers will receive this snack bag if you’re in a premium cabin. For domestic flights that are 2 hours and 20 minutes or longer, we’ll offer this snack bag to everyone on board
Ensuring aircraft cleaning standards meet or exceed CDC guidelines
All UA staff, crew & UA passengers are now required to wear a face mask
Applying social distancing to seating procedures when possible, including:

- Limiting middle seat usage where possible and for busy flights giving passengers the option to change aircraft up to 24hours prior to departure
- Moving customers seated closely together
- Boarding from back to front by row after pre-boarding
- Boarding in groups of five rows at a time to reduce crowding

In general:

Using electrostatic clinical auto spray machines to disinfect aircraft, 750 machines in situ in all UA hubs which is enough for each aircraft
Using state-of-the-art, hospital-grade, high-efficiency (HEPA) filters to circulate air and remove up to 99.7% of airborne particles
Introducing United CleanPlus: A New Standard of Cleanliness and Safety

Virgin Atlantic

At the Airport:

Hand sanitisers at multi-use areas.
Onboard social distancing where possible
Airport medical screening is available for anyone who is identified as feeling unwell at the airport, using medical advisory provider MedAire

In the air:

Thorough cleanse of all aircraft before & after every departure
Pre-packed inflight crew cleaning kits – On all aircraft Cabin Crew are provided with pre-packaged cleaning supplies to maintain required standards during the flight. These kits include gloves, disinfectant, and cleaning wipes
All Airbus and Boeing aircraft have HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters that remove dust, allergens, bacteria, viruses
All the air in the cabin is completely changed every 3 minutes on average. The HEPA filters are highly effective at removing viruses (testing shows a virus removal efficiency of 99.999%)
An isolation area is on every flight should a passenger or crew members show symptoms in-flight
All crew will wear face masks when in contact with passengers

After every flight:

All aircraft are thoroughly cleaned using a high-grade registered disinfecting product that has been tested to be effective against viruses. Surfaces including cabin surfaces and customer contact areas such as seats, seatback pockets, door handles, tray tables, inflight entertainment screens, and floors
All common area surfaces in galleys and lavatories are cleaned using the same high-grade materials
Pre-packed inflight crew cleaning kits

In general:

Pre-flight cabin crew cleanliness checks

CTM recommends travellers seek independent information prior to travel.

Local solutions, delivered globally

Covid-19: Airport & Airline Updates.

USEFUL LINKS:

AIRPORT LINKS:

AIRLINES:

Air Canada

Air France / KLM

British Airways

Cathay Pacific

Delta Airlines

Etihad

Japan Airlines

Qatar Airways

Scandinavian Airlines

United Airlines

Virgin Atlantic