Changes landing as airport adapts to life with corona
EXPECT fewer seats, reduced shopping and eating options and make sure you are wearing a mask.
Manchester Airport has released a new video outlining the changes to air travel in a post-Covid world.
Social distancing must be adhered to at all times, with limited seats in the terminals to avoid cosy situations. And there will be no waiting in the terminal for a loved one, with all pick-ups to take place in your car outside.
The video also reminds passengers their sanitiser must be in a bottle containing no more than 100ml.
These rules are among a number of measures featured in the footage which offers passengers a glimpse into a new world where if you have a temperature or cough you must abandon your flight and stay at home.
It has been released as Manchester Airports Group (MAG) prepares to reopen Terminal 3 on July 1.
It also coincides with Ryanair’s move to increase flights to popular European holiday destinations from this week, including Lanzarote, Ibiza and Tenerife.
Airport bosses said a number of airlines will revert to operating at Terminal 3, including Ryanair, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Eastern Airways and Loganair.
The airport said the terminal’s reopening would help to ‘spread out the number of people’ and allow passengers to ‘maintain and keep a sensible distance.’
Bosses have also revealed a host of new COVID-19 safety measures for passengers and staff.
All passengers and staff are now being asked to wear face masks.
Pre-booked airport security slots have already been trialled in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Passengers can reserve a free 15-minute window to use a dedicated lane taking them directly to a checkpoint.
MAG said it was the first time such a system has been used in the UK.
The airport said it wanted to advise passengers of the new safety measures as flying resumes to more destinations.
The UK’s third largest gateway has been carrying out a trial of measures for a numbers of weeks, ahead of official government guidance being confirmed last week.
In a statement, the airport said: “The security and wellbeing of all of Manchester Airport’s passengers and staff remains its number one priority, which is why it has introduced a range of safety measures to allow people to travel with confidence.
“These include wearing face coverings, enhanced cleaning, bookable security slots and temperature checks, among other things.
“Through a mix of graphics, posters, animations and social media content the airport has summarised these into handy hints for passengers to easily digest.”
Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should not travel to the airport.
That also applies to anyone in a self-isolating household.
“Check the latest government advice regarding travel to your destination and any requirements for returning passengers, such as quarantine,” said the airport.
“Check the status of your flight with your airline.
“Prepare for your journey by considering what you might need every step of the way. Do you need to leave extra time to get to the airport?
“Do you have the PPE you need to travel on public transport? Could you make your airport experience easier by booking a slot to pass through security?
“Protect others by only entering the terminal if you are a travelling passenger or working at the airport.
“Keep your distance from others while in the terminal. Social distancing