Less luggage, more delays: Freedom to fly will come with a new normal | Economic Times

MUMBAI: Fliers in the next few months may be advised to carry only one baggage item, reach airports earlier than usual, be thermal scanned while departing and arriving, and stand at designated areas at every place from check-in counters to food and beverage outlets.These are some of the key points being discussed for airports when they open up to receive flights and passengers once air travel restrictions are lifted after the extended lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, people aware of the developments told ET.Airlines and airport operators are formulating scenarios for resumption of operations, and the other guidelines being discussed include passengers mandatorily carrying medical certificates to airports and being supplied with masks and gloves on board. “A lot of points are being discussed and there are inputs being given by all stakeholders, including airport operators and security agencies,” a person privy to the discussions said. “The aviation ministry in consultation with the health ministry will come up with a set of guidelines soon.” The busiest airports in the country are in cities which have the highest cases of novel coronavirus-infected patients – Mumbai and Delhi. Hence, operators need to be extra cautious. All flights have been suspended till May 17, the latest extended last date of the national lockdown. “We are very clear that we want to entirely discourage cabin baggage and advice passengers to carry just one luggage item,” said the person quoted above. “More the luggage, the higher are chances of contamination.” According to proposals from Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), passengers should reach the airport at least two hours before departure and the security gates would be shut one hour before the flight departure time.Delhi international airport, the busiest in the country, has set up a system for UV disinfection of all incoming baggage. All trolleys will undergo disinfection through a tunnel, sources said.Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports are also setting up thermal screening counters at departure and arrival gates.Mumbai and Bengaluru will maintain social distancing through distinctive markings at both the terminals, maintaining 1.5 metres distance between each passenger, officials said. The special markings will be spread across the entry gate, check-in counters, self-check-in kiosks, security checkpoints, food courts, lounge area and the boarding areas, they said.75545292