Manchester Airport has introduced a range of safe travel measures to align with airlines resuming their services. A range of airlines have already announced or re-started operations from the UK’s third largest airport.
Last week saw Manchester’s first flight to Dubai start back with Emirates, while Monday 22 June sees Eastern Airways resume its Southampton service and Swiss Airlines’s restarting flights to Zurich. In addition to its Dublin service, Ryanair is also increasing its operations with routes to 16 destinations including Lanzarote, Alicante, Milan, Ibiza, Lisbon, Prague and Tenerife.
The airport has been carrying a trial of measures for a number of weeks and has now updated its advice to passengers so they know how to prepare for their journey and what to expect on arriving at the airport.
The safety measures introduced at the airport include wearing face coverings, enhanced cleaning, bookable security slots and temperature checks. A mix of graphics, posters, animations and social media content have enabled the airport to help share these measures with passengers.
Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or someone in their household is self-isolating. They are also advised to check the latest government advice regarding travel at their destination and any requirements for passengers returning to the UK, such as quarantine restrictions.
The airport is also recommending that only those travelling by air enter the terminal building and to keep a distance while inside the terminal to comply with social distancing guidelines. Face coverings should be worn at all times across the airport campus, on airport buses and within the terminal. Customers should bring their own face coverings.
Hand sanitiser will be available throughout the airport, but passengers are reminded to wash their hands regularly using soap and water. The airport is also cleaning all surfaces on a rolling basis; trialling UV cleaning technology on escalator handrails and installing protective screens in busy customer areas. It is also trialling other potential safety measures, such as the use of temperature testing equipment at the entrance to security.
Brad Miller, COO at Manchester Airport said: “We’ve been trialling a lot of safety measures for the last month to ensure they are appropriate and firmly in place ahead of airlines ramping up their operations. We are confident we have the right mix of things in place to facilitate safe travel and allow passengers to fly with confidence.”
