Coronavirus pandemic

Global aviation body unveils new health protocol for air travel

The recommendations are intended to serve as a "framework" for assuring the safety of passengers and workers on planes and at airports. PHOTO: REUTERS

MONTREAL • Mask wearing, temperature controls, disinfection of aircraft: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has published a series of health recommendations for the pandemic-hit airline industry as it relaunches air travel.

The protocol issued on Monday was drawn up by an international task force formed by the Montreal-based ICAO with the help of other United Nations agencies such as the World Health Organisation and the powerful International Air Transport Association (Iata).

"These guidelines will facilitate convergence, mutual recognition and harmonisation of aviation Covid-19-related measures across the globe," Mr Philippe Bertoux, France's representative on the ICAO's board, which led the task force debate, said in a statement.

The changes being suggested are the most important for air travel since security measures put in place after the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.

The recommendations, adopted on Monday evening by the ICAO's executive committee, are intended to serve as a framework for assuring the safety of passengers and workers on planes and at airports.

On their arrival at airports, travellers should present a health certificate and undergo an initial temperature check, under the guidelines. Online check-in before arriving at the airport should be given priority, and passages through security should be re-thought to limit physical contact and waiting in lines.

Mobile tickets are advised, as well as other forms of no-contact technology, such as facial or eye scans. "This will eliminate or greatly reduce the need for con-tact with travel documents between staff and passengers," the protocol said.

Passengers are encouraged to travel as light as possible, with just one small piece of hand luggage.

Newspapers and magazines will no longer be allowed on board, and duty-free sales will be limited.

The wearing of a mask or face covering should be obligatory inside aircraft and terminals, where physical distancing of at least 1m should be respected.

Terminal access will be limited to passengers and their companions, such as those accompan-ying disabled travellers, and air-port personnel.

Aboard planes, passengers should wear masks, move as little as possible within the cabin, and not queue outside toilets to lessen the risk of infecting other passengers.

People will be assigned specific toilet stalls on the plane in relation to where they are seated. Flight attendants will be provided with personal protective equipment that could include visors, gloves and medical masks.

But the ICAO does not advocate leaving every other seat open to assure physical distancing, a restriction that the airline industry sees as a threat to its profitability.

The organisation, nevertheless, asks passengers to remain as far from one another as possible. It also advocates that food on board be pre-packaged and that aircraft be regularly disinfected.

The ICAO estimates that the pandemic will reduce the number of air passengers by 1.5 billion by the end of the year.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 03, 2020, with the headline Global aviation body unveils new health protocol for air travel. Subscribe