Travel Guidelines

Passenger Guidelines for Domestic Air Travel:

As the airports, airline operators and other stakeholders in India are set to recommence the domestic airline operations in India from 25th May 2020, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has put forth some guidelines for the air travelers who choose to travel during the Corona outbreak.
Kindly adhere to the following for a safe air travel experience.

Domestic Travel:

• The concerned agencies shall be providing the travellers with the Dos and Don’ts along with the tickets.
• All passengers are advised to download the Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices.
• All passengers are to undergo the thermal screen at the point of departure, and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the flight.
• All passengers should observe the required safety protocols such as wearing masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene and hand hygiene.
• Social distancing is to be followed at the airport and during boarding and deboarding the flight.
• Passengers should undergo thermal screening at the exit points.
• Asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to observe home quarantine while self-monitoring their health. On developing any symptoms, they shall inform the District Surveillance Officer or contact the State/National call centre(1075).
• Symptomatic passengers will mild symptoms be isolated and taken to the nearest health facility, where they will be monitored for clinical severity.
• Symptomatic passengers with moderate to severe symptoms would be admitted to dedicated COVID Health facilities and will be monitored accordingly.
• The symptomatic passengers will be tested as per the Government guidelines. If tested positive, they will be kept in the COVID Care centre and monitored. If the results are negative, they will be allowed to stay isolated at home along with self-monitoring their health.
• Based on the assessment, the states can introduce new protocols to be followed, which have to be strictly followed by the passengers.

Airport Protocols: To ensure maximum safety of the passengers, safety measures and guidelines have been issued by the airport authorities, which has to be strictly followed by the passengers.

Personal and Environmental Hygiene:

• Hand sanitisers are to be used from time to time inside the airport. These sanitisers are available at multiple points inside the airport.
• Baggage sanitisation will be done at the terminal entry point, and on arrival.
• Necessary disinfection and sanitisation measures are taken at the passenger touchpoints.
• Walk-in shoe sanitiser mats installed at entry points to disinfect footwear.
• Transparent glass shields installed at all main points like entry points, security check and check-in counters to create a barrier between the passenger and the airport staff.
• All the airport staff will be provided with hand sanitisers and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
• For passengers with special needs like unaccompanied minors or those who may need wheelchairs, the supporting staff at the airports will be in fully equipped with protective gear. The wheelchairs used will be pre-sanitised to ensure passenger safety.
  Other Safety Measures:
• To avoid crowding, various disembarkation points have been provided for the vehicles.
• Usage of trolleys is discouraged during departure and arrival at the airports.
• Social distancing is to be strictly maintained by following the 1 metre markings, and separated seating arrangements in the forecourt areas. Chairs marked “Not for use” should be avoided.
• Separately earmarked areas for COVID-19 testing and isolation for suspected passengers.
• Each airline to have separate entry gates to avoid overcrowding.
• Special bins installed for disposal of biohazard materials like used masks, gloves and tissues.
• Newspapers, magazines and all other non-essential loose items are not provided inside the terminal building or lounges.

Airline Safety Measures:

All the domestic airline operators follow strict guidelines to ensure passenger safety. Here are the measures followed by the domestic carriers in India:

Sanitisation:

• All carriers will be sanitised after every flight and at the end of the day as per the directed protocol.
• HEPA filters used to prevent spread of airborne viral and bacterial organisms and other harmful particles.
• Sufficient number of counters to facilitate convenient and safe baggage drop.
• Printed receipts are not provided at the baggage drop counters. Instead, the passengers would be receiving electronic receipts via SMS.
• Only digital payment is accepted at baggage and ticketing counters.
• Passengers to be provided with protection kits to be used throughout the journey. The protection kit comprises of a 3-layered mask, sanitiser and face shield.
• Thermal screening will be conducted at the boarding point. Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the flight.
• The lavatories inside the aircraft to be sanitised every hour during the flight.
• The buses used at airports for boarding purposes to be sanitised at frequent intervals.
• All staff are to wear protective gear like masks and gloves at all times, and maintain high standards of hygiene.
• All staff and crew including the ground staff to undergo training on the protective measures, and are also required to take regular health checks.
• In case of a medical emergency inside the flight due to COVID-19, special attention should be given to the affected seats while disinfecting the aircraft.

Other safety Measures:

• The boarding would commence 60 minutes before the scheduled departure to allow time for safety measures.`
• Staggered sequential boarding in batches of 10 to be followed as much as possible.
• All non-essential movement and the usage of lavatories in the aisle should be minimised.
• Queuing will be allowed at the lavatory. Only one companion is allowed for children or the elderly.
• No meal services will be provided inside the aircraft to minimise physical contact. Water bottles will be provided in the gallery area or on the seats.
• Passengers will not be allowed to consume any eatables inside the aircraft (except on health grounds).
• Newspapers or magazines will not be available inside the aircraft.
• Passengers are to complete web check-in before arriving at the airport. Tele check-in facility is also been provided by the airline operators.
• Passengers are to provide self-declaration during web check-in and tele check-in in order to issue the boarding pass.