Shannon Airport has announced a series of new safety measures to protect the health of passengers and employees.
While the airport remained open for essential services to facilitate cargo, repatriation and emergency flights during the COVID-19 crisis, scheduled passenger services have been suspended at Shannon since the start of the crisis, but the airport will begin welcoming passengers again from July 1 when Ryanair starts to recommence services to Alicante, Barcelona-Reus, Faro, Fuerteventura, Kaunas, Krakow, Lanzarote, London-Gatwick, London-Stansted, Malaga, Manchester, Palma, Tenerife, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Vienna.
Contactless Journey
As much as is possible, journey's through the airport will be contactless journey, with minimal touch-points.
Over 4,000 pieces of COVID-19 signage have been installed en route to the airport and inside the terminal building.
Hygiene And Sanitation
The airport is encouraging proper hand hygiene, sneeze and cough etiquette. Multiple sanitiser dispensers and special hand sanitation stations, along with disinfectant wipes, have been installed throughout the airport starting at the entry doors.
In addition to its normal cleaning services, the airport has introduced specialised COVID-19 deep cleaning and sanitisation services.
Face Coverings
Shannon Airport strongly recommends that all passengers bring and wear a face covering when inside the airport terminal building. In line with Irish government guidelines, children under the age of 13 and passengers who have a valid medical reason are exempt from wearing a face covering. Face mask vending machines will also be available at the airport for those passengers who forget to bring one. Airport employees are being asked to wear face masks in the airport where social distancing is difficult or not possible.
Online Check-In
Passengers are advised to check-in online via their airline's website or mobile app before they arrive at the airport if possible.
Glass Screens
Protective glass screens have been erected at key customer facing areas throughout the terminal building, including at check-in, all customer service desks, security screening areas, retail areas and boarding gates.
Physical Distancing
Physical distancing and queue management systems have been put in place throughout the airport
The two-metre social distancing guidelines have been implemented throughout with floor signage.
Public seating has been reconfigured to ensure observation of the two-metre protocol with stickers on seats which will be left vacant to ensure social distancing.
Payments And Food
Passengers are requested to limit the use of cash in shops, bars and restaurants, with contactless payments being the preferred choice across all outlets when they reopen. Socially distanced seating will be in place. Physical distancing queueing will be in place when shopping and ordering food at the airport. Once food orders are placed, customers will be required to return to their seats and their orders will be delivered to their tables.
The airport's public address system will incorporate social distancing reminders for passengers which will be repeated at regular intervals.
Terminal Access
Only passengers with a valid ticket should enter the departures or check-in area of the airport terminal building. If you are meeting an arriving passenger or seeing off someone who is travelling, the airport requests that you do not come into the terminal.
Car Park
For a contactless experience at the airport car park, the airport recommends pre-booking online at shannonairport.ie in advance. Contactless pay machines are located at entry and exit points in the airport car park. All airport car park payments must be with credit/debit cards only.
Airport Statement
Shannon Airport stated that the measures reflect the national COVID-19 Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines and government code of practice guidelines for air passengers taking on board the best practice guidelines developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
