Struggling national carrier, Kenya Airways (KQ) has outlined a new set of plans as the airline plans to reopen. You will now have to arrive two hours early for your local flight wearing a mask and ready for a check-in process that will probably take ages in order to fly in the new Covid-19 era.
KQ CEO Allan Kilavuka said once the ban on flights is lifted, the airline would undertake a gradual return to the skies starting with domestic flights emulating South Africa.
“The return will be tiered and progressive in response to observed demand, keeping to those routes that would build traffic for us fast,” he said last month.
In order to fly, whether international or domestic flights, you will have to go through a one-hour increase in check-in times at the terminals. Masks will be mandatory and while waiting in line, you will be required to maintain social distancing by stepping on floor markings while your temperatures are checked using thermoguns.
At the check-in, immigration, and security counters, all staff will be expected to sanitize after serving every guest. The counters have been retrofitted with antimicrobial screens to minimize any viral transfers between guests and staff.
At the boarding zones, the seats will be arranged to maintain social distance.
In the airplanes, all cabin crew will be expected to wear personal protective equipment, with the passengers expected to have their masks on all throughout the flight.
Meal boxes, packages, cutlery, pastries, sweets, and refreshing towels will all be single-wrapped and disposable. Before the pandemic, the blankets and pillows were used on multiple occasions.
After each flight, KQ will disinfect the aircraft, a pointer of longer turnaround times, and an additional cost to the airline.
Once the passengers arrive at the terminals, they will have to go through the testing process again by having their temperatures taken, and then use the baggage trolleys, which will be disinfected at intervals.
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