With the gradual return of passengers anticipated and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 Tampa International Airport (TPA) is implementing a number of changes to its facilities and operations.
In an airport-wide effort dubbed ‘TPA Ready’ the plan mandates practices for social distancing, mask usage, plastic shield barriers, surface disinfection and touchless transactions, all designed to slow or stop the spread of germs and viruses. The airport will also urge passengers to follow guidelines designed to keep them and others healthy and safe.
Some of the changes include plastic or acrylic shields that will be installed in high-traffic areas such as ticket kiosks, security checkpoints, boarding gates and concessions counters. All employees will be required to wear face masks. Thousands of ground markings and signs will give guidance on six-foot distancing ticket counters, boarding gates, shuttles, SkyConnect, concessions counters, US Customs and other common areas. Seating throughout the airport will be reduced, blocked off or spaced apart and TPA is employing additional cleaning crew staff, using cutting-edge disinfection applications and products on surfaces, hand rails and elevator buttons. The number of hand sanitisers throughout the airport will also be increased.
Passengers are advised to wear face masks and arrive at least two hours before departure. Travellers should use carry-on luggage and mobile boarding passes to limit touchpoints.
“We know there’s an eagerness among our travellers and employees to resume our normal lives again, that new normal may look very different than what we were accustomed to pre-COVID-19,” said TPA’s CEO Joe Lopano. “Keeping people safe is always our top priority at TPA, and as people plan to come back, we want to ensure we are offering an environment that is clean, healthy and ready for business.”
