Here’s how the Mumbai airport will function once it resumes commercial operations

While the Civil Aviation Ministry has directed the airlines to stop booking till further notice, airports, on the other hand, have started prepping up for post lockdown operations. India’s major private and state-owned airports have already started to make necessary arrangements for passengers keeping in mind safety and precautionary measures prescribed for social distancing.

Even, India’s second busiest airport i.e. GVK MIAL led Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) recently announced that it is ready to handle flights and passengers post lockdown. Mumbai Airport has informed that it has put together safety measures to contain the spread of the virus.

The airport has formulated standard operating procedures for post-lockdown safety of the passengers, which include social distancing, stringent thermal screening, positioning temporary quarantine centres and also continues to sanitise and disinfect the airport to ensure safety and well-being of the passengers when operations resume.

Here’s how Mumbai Airport will operate post lockdown:

·         Social distancing will be maintained through distinctive markings at both the terminals, maintaining 1.5 metres distance between each passenger.

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·         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 area among others.

·         The seating arrangement at the food court as well as in the terminal building is rearranged in a manner that promotes social distancing.

·         Quarantine centres have been created at both the terminals of the airport in case any passenger shows symptoms of the deadly virus during screening which will be conducted before entering the terminal building.

·         The airport will be assigning their personnel to assist travellers at the self-check-in kiosks to help with the boarding copy and other details along with stationing hand sanitisers at all the touchpoints.

·         Passengers mandatorily will have to wear masks and gloves during the entire course of their travel.

·         Mumbai airport is encouraging passengers to check-in online from the comfort of their home or office.

·         More emphasis laid on digital and contactless payment at the airport restaurants and retail stores.

·         As far as the stakeholders and staff are concerned, CSMIA will be functioning with 50 per cent staff strength in the initial phase of resuming operations. The airport maintenance staffs have been provided with renewed cleaning procedures to disinfect the terminal building including areas such as elevator buttons, escalators and immigration counters.