Airline operates special routes to get workers back on the job
Measures taken to ensure safety of all staff and passengers during travel
China Southern Airlines recently organizes charter flights to help migrant workers get back to their jobs, especially those in difficulty finding transportation, as the epidemic control shows signs of progress and the country attempts to reopen for business.
By March 11, more than 20 flights had carried 3,000 workers from poor families in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Heilongjiang province and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region to their places of work, including Shandong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.
A total of 123 migrant workers from Moyu county of Xinjiang flew to Xiamen on March 9. Mabai Ababaiko, 20, was one of the passengers. He works at an electronics factory in Xiamen. It was the first time he left his hometown for work.
“I plan to save more money to buy cows and sheep for my family and to give them better life,” he said on the flight.
On Feb 26, the airline transported 242 workers from nine counties in Kashgar, Xinjiang, to Changsha, Hunan province. Over 2,000 workers from the autonomous region have been flown to work.
The charter flights were arranged by local governments and companies, during a period when transport had been restricted in the country due to the outbreak.
The airline tried to ensure the greatest convenience was afforded to the passengers, including issuing tickets in advance, delivering tickets to homes and using local dialects as well as Mandarin in broadcasts.
China Southern Airlines also offered customized services for companies in short supply of workers. On March 11-12, two flights chartered by Henan Energy and Chemical Industry Group picked up 331 workers from Kuqa, Xinjiang. There was previously no direct flight between Zhengzhou, where the company is located, and Kuqa.
On Feb 19, the second day of the airline chartering flights for businesses, it received more than 200 inquiries.
As of March 10, it had completed 136 charter flights, many of which were destined for Guangzhou, Guangdong province, a major hub for migrant workers, including those from Xinjiang.
As of March 10, China Southern Airlines resumed more than 6,300 flights. The airline’s flights in March have been restored to a daily average of around 1,000.
In terms of international transportation, China Southern Airlines said it would adjust its flights based on policies and market demand. The airline was the first to have reopened direct flights from China to Nairobi on Feb 26.
The cabin is a confined space, and therefore has strict requirements for epidemic control. Crew members are asked to check their body temperatures in advance and wear face masks and gloves at all times.
Blankets and ear phones are only used once. The airline has also stopped offering menus, wine lists, newspapers and magazines, to reduce potential contagion.
After each flight, cabins are disinfected thoroughly. The air conditioning recirculating system is also cleaned frequently. The distance between passengers is set at 1 meter in all waiting areas. The seats are allocated in accordance with specific spacing measures.
Passengers board one by one based on their seat number, to avoid waiting in long lines. They are also encouraged to use automatic check-in services.
In terms of cargo, China Southern Airlines is working to ensure the transportation of necessities used for epidemic control with an emergency communication system and a “green channel” system operating 24 hours a day.