Passengers will now be required to bring and wear their own masks before, during, and after the flight lest they will be denied boarding. This is just one of the new policies expected to be enforced once airlines resume operations.
“A lot of our normal life has taken a ‘new normal’ turn. And flying will just be one of them,” said Captain Ling Liong Tien, pilot and chief safety officer of AirAsia. “But that just means that we are travelling with heightened steps when it comes to safety and health, which is good for everyone.”
In addition to requiring passengers to wear face masks, Capt. Ling said AirAsia will impose a new cabin baggage policy of only one piece of baggage not exceeding 7kg for each guest to help minimize contact with other passengers’ baggage.
“There will also be temperature checks at different checkpoints, including boarding gates. And all of our crew will also go through temperature checks after every shift,” he said.
The Malaysian airline recently launched its new cabin crew uniform—personal protective suits in AirAsia’s signature red color, designed by Filipino fashion designer Puey Quiñones. Flight attendants will be required to wear PPE, including masks and gloves, on all domestic and international flights.
Social distancing will also be observed, according to Capt. Ling, hence “there will be floor markers at queuing areas, including check-in counters and kiosks.”
Alternate check-in counters will also be available to ensure sufficient distance, as well as contactless check-in processes to minimize person-to-person contact.
Passengers are also expected to fill up health declaration forms before or on arrival at their respective destinations.
AirAsia’s chief safety officer added that all the company’s aircraft go through regular, enhanced disinfection procedure. Further, at every night stop, each aircraft goes through a thorough two-hour cleaning procedure, in compliance with instructions from health authorities.
“This will be our new normal in the near future, and of course, we hope that the situation will gradually improve soon,” said Capt. Ling.