NEW DELHI: After the Covid-19 lockdown ends, air services may start from only one of the three terminals at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The government has not yet said when the permission will be given to start the air services, but the Civil Aviation ministry, airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), airline companies and security agencies have started their preparations.
Continuous brain storming is being done on measures needed to operate regular passenger service while maintaining social distance and health safety measures to prevent Corona infection.
Sources told UNI that initially Terminal-3 will be opened only and all flights will depart from there.
Only domestic flights will be started first. For this, the international terminal T-3 will be used because there are more counters and enough space which will make it easier to maintain social distance.
The total area of ??Terminal-3 is 54 lakh sqft. There are 168 check-in counters, 78 aerobridges for boarding and 14 baggage belts.
Initially, the airline is expected to start on select routes only. This will also reduce the movement of passengers. Despite this, passengers can be asked to arrive at the airport three hours ahead of time as it will take longer to enter the terminal and for check-in, baggage tagging among others, as social distance has to be maintained.
Sources said the showrooms and other commercial outlets at the airport would remain closed for the time being.
Passengers will be encouraged to check-in online. They will also be advised to generate boarding passes themselves at the airport. Key board of self check-in machine will have to be disinfected after every use.
Every employee who comes in direct contact with the passengers along with the security personnel will be using PPE kit.
Passengers will be encouraged not to bring hand baggage. The load limit of check-in baggage could be increased instead, sources said.
After checking baggage, they will be sterilized by ultraviolet rays before being loaded into the aircraft.
DIAL has made boxes at a reasonable distance on the floor at the entrance of the terminal, check-in counters, inside the elevator where passengers will standing in queues for entry, security check, check-in, boarding, among others.
Airlines are planning to fly with middle seats empty to help passengers to avoid passengers sitting directly beside each other. (AGENCIES)
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