Spanish national carrier Iberian, Singapore Airlines and Air France are among the airlines to recently announce new coronavirus screening measures for flights.
Iberian has announced it would implement a unique COVID-19 health plan, designed in partnership with the Spanish hospital group Quirónsalud, and will be offering COVID-19 antibody tests to all its employees.
The new measures were announced in a press release on 6 May, and will allow all current staff and employees who are returning from leave to have a blood test to see if they have been infected with the coronavirus. This was especially important in Spain as it was one of the countries hardest hit.
The voluntary testing will be performed at Iberia health stations and on Quirónsalud premises. The blood tests will be done when an employee first returns to work, and then 15 and 30 days later.
Travellers with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will now have to wear a face mask onboard any flights with the carriers in a bid to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Effective from 23:59 on 10 May, all passengers on board are required to bring their own masks and wear them throughout the flight, as well as follow strict social distancing measures.
Other airlines have also introduced compulsory mask adherence on flight, but others have provided the masks for travellers, whereas SilkAir and Air Asia have asked travellers to supply their own.
Air France has announced that it will be checking passenger temperatures. In a press release issued yesterday, the French national flag carrier said that it would be reviewing all passenger temperatures on departing flights starting from Monday, 11 May.
The airline will be carrying out systematic checks using contactless infrared thermometers. All passengers with a temperature of less than 38 degrees will be cleared to fly. Meanwhile, those passengers with a higher reading may be denied boarding. If a passenger is not allowed on the flight due to a high temperature, they will be allowed to change their reservation for a later date at no charge.
Over the last few weeks airlines have continued to up their measures against the virus, some have conducted measures such as quick airport COVID-19 checks before flights, social distancing on flights, and PPE equipment for all crew.
There is no doubt that as airlines seek to build confidence among travellers that more extensive measures will be implemented to encourage travellers to fly once more when the pandemic begins to come under control.
