Cebu Pacific, PAL prepare for ‘new normal’

Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines on Tuesday outlined how they would operate under a “new normal” scheme as the carriers prepare for the eventual resumption of commercial operations from a two-month halt due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Cebu Pacific

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said it planned to implement new sanitation protocols and intensified preventive measures, as it prepared for the resumption.

The budget airline said all its pilots and cabin crew would undergo rapid antibody tests before they were assigned to operate flights.

All operating crew would wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while on duty. All ground staff were likewise required to don PPEs while on duty.

Cleaning and disinfection procedures had been ramped-up for all Cebu Pacific facilities and equipment such as self check-in kiosks, check-in and bag drop counters, and shuttle buses.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers would be provided for all passengers and staff at the airport and inside the aircraft.

Cebu Pacific will also roll out “contactless flights” by minimizing face-to-face contact between its ground staff and passengers while observing physical distancing.

The airline urged all passengers to check-in for flights online. They would also be required to hold their own boarding passes with the barcode facing the staff for scanning.

Queues and boarding procedures would be managed according to physical distancing guidelines.

All passengers would also be required to wear face masks upon entry at the airport terminal and for the duration of the flight.

All Cebu Pacific aircraft would undergo extensive daily disinfection, which included the misting of the cabin using a disinfectant approved for Airbus jets that was effective in eradicating viruses including the novel coronavirus.

This process observed International Air Transport Association guidelines, and ensures that all surfaces (such as passenger seats, overhead bins, and cargo compartments) are covered and sanitized, Cebu Pacific said.

On top of thorough cleaning before and after operations for the day, all surfaces inside the lavatories--from the walls, sink, mirror, knobs, toilet bowl, and floors would be cleaned and disinfected in between flights. All lavatories would also be sanitized every 30 minutes during a flight.

Cebu Pacific said its fleet of Airbus jets were also equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestor (HEPA) filters that were capable of filtering microscopic bacteria and virus clusters, including the novel coronavirus with 99.99% efficiency, similar to what was used in hospital operating rooms.

CEB planned to restart commercial operations after almost two months of temporary suspension. The carrier may initially restart with a limited number of domestic flights.  

PAL

PAL unveiled additional safety measures that would be in place covering various phases of the passenger journey.

The following were the flag carrier’s “new normal” measures:

• Thermal scans before entering ticket office; no mask, no entry for all visitors
• Managed social distancing inside ticketing office
• PAL staff wearing face masks
• Transparent barriers at the counter
• Passengers are advise to check-in online and be at the airport early—four hours before international departures and three hours before domestic departures from airports in the Philippines
• Face masks required for all flights
• Up to two kilos allowed from the original seven kilos carry on
• For Free Baggage Allowance: 5 kilos added to passenger's FBA
• Passengers may carry on board up to 10 100ml bottles of sanitizers with up to 70% alcohol
• Rigorous cabin cleaning and disinfection
• Crew in full Personal Protective Equipment
• Simplified meal or snack service-
• Social Distancing cabin seating options
• HEPA filters to purify cabin air

“PAL carries out measures to ensure that the fleet is in tip-top shape when the time comes for the airline to resume normal operations. These are —protection and preservation of aircraft while on the ground in line with maintenance protocols and thorough inspections on aircraft in line with the guidelines of Aircraft Engineering, Quality and Safety teams,” the airline said.

The resumption of operations will be contingent on the duration of enhanced community quarantine in specific areas, the status of travel restrictions imposed by various governments, passenger travel demand, public health, and safety situation in each of the countries that PAL serves. — DVM, GMA News