An extra hour for check-in and no newspapers⁠— these are all the things you can and can’t do while taking a flight hereon

• The civil aviation ministry on Thursday (May 21) released detailed guidelines for passengers travelling by air.
• As per the standard operating procedure (SOP), passengers with fever, cold, cough and throat pain will not be allowed to enter the airport.
• The new rules include maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks and thermal screening for all.
• Here’s a list of SOPs to be followed by the passengers.

Airlines are now gearing up to resume domestic flights after India allowed a third of operations from May 25. The civil aviation ministry on Thursday (May 21) released detailed guidelines for passengers travelling by air.

As per the standard operating procedure (SOP), passengers with fever, cold, cough and throat pain will not be allowed to enter the airport. The new rules include maintaining social distancing, wearing face masks and thermal screening for all.

The guidelines came a day after Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday said, “Domestic civil aviation operations will recommence in a calibrated manner from Monday, May 25 2020.”

Besides that, the Centre has also advised the airlines to adhere to the lower and upper limits of fares prescribed by the Ministry during the period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s a list of SOPs to be followed by the passengers:

• Passengers will have to go through thermal screening and all passengers above 14 must-have downloaded Aarogya Setu in their mobiles. Anyone without the government’s contact tracing app will not be allowed in the airport.

• Passengers will have to arrive two hours before the departure time and no more than four hours.

• Only selected cab services and personal vehicles will be allowed to take passengers to the airport or pick up from it.

• It is compulsory to wear face masks and gloves.

• In order to maintain social distancing, chairs will be taped off or marked by the airports.

• As per the direction of the Home Ministry, all staff will have to wear Personal Protective Equipment and should carry hand sanitisers along with them.

• Bag carrying trolleys will not be allowed in the arrival or departure sections, and in an exceptional case, they will be disinfected.

• All baggage will be sanitised properly by the airport operators at the entry point.

• All entry gates will remain open in order to avoid crowding.

• In order to maintain social distancing, markings like circle, square or tensor barrier will be there at the entry gates, screening zones and throughout the terminal.

• Carpets soaked in bleach will be placed at the entrance for disinfecting shoes.

• No newspaper or magazine will be provided onboard by the airlines or lounges.

• All passengers will be boarded and evacuated in batches to maintain social distancing.

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