The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has proposed sweeping changes to airline travel in India in the post-lockdown days in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The new protocol, submitted to the aviation ministry, includes suggestions to continue social distancing norms and decrease crowd at airports at a given point of time.
As per the proposals, passengers might be asked to report two hours prior to the flight time. Flyers will also be asked to carry masks, gloves and sanitisers along with them for travel, The Times of India reported.
Further, passengers will have to follow social distancing norms even before they enter the airport. CISF personnel, who are posted at airports, will be equipped with thermal temperature scanners and will not allow passengers with fever to enter the airport. As per an NDTV report, queues will be strictly managed with a gap of at least one metre being maintained between passengers. This practice will be maintained during the check-in and security check procedure as well.
Further, there will be a vacant seat between every two passengers. The CISF proposes that the Defence Research and Development Organisation and/or some other organisations be requested to develop “sanitising tunnels” that can be placed at airport entry points for passengers and employees. Staggering of flights to avoid crowding at airports at any time is another measure suggested by the paramilitary force.
The suggestions are in the larger safety interest of both the passengers, and airline and airport staff. Reportedly, aviation regulator DGCA is working on a flight resumption plan that will take all these suggestions into consideration. All indications point towards sweeping changes in the airlines industry in the post lockdown India.
Taking cue, budget airliner and India's largest operator by market share, IndiGo, announced a slew of policy changes on Friday. The airline will deep clean its aircraft more frequently, stop in-flight meal service for a brief period and will fill the maximum 50 per cent seats in airport buses, CEO Ronojoy Dutta informed.
At the same time, the vacant-seat policy will halve the number of passengers allowed per flight. Hence, the increased personal and social security norms will invariably result in flight ticket rates to shoot up significantly once flying resumes.
With coronavirus positive cases continuing to soar in India, no respite is in immediate sight for the ailing airline sector. The airline operators have been among the worst affected within the travel and tourism industry due to the coronavirus lockdown. However, with states extending lockdown for another two weeks, India is likely to extend flying restrictions for domestic as well as international travels.
