RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued a guide for passengers that includes a set of precautionary measures before, during and after reaching the destination in order to ensure a safe journey for them and others, as the Kingdom prepares to resume phased domestic flight operations. According to the GACA’s guide, the person needs to commit to several responsibilities during the flight, and in the event the passenger violates any of the preventive measures the person could face a travel ban. The preventive measures have been established by GACA and the Ministry of Health and have to be followed to the letter. These responsibilities begin on completion of the purchase of airline tickets — by electronic means only. The passenger needs to be at the airport two hours before the flight departs. The person’s temperature will be measured at the airport, and their hands need to be sterilized when entering the hall, and they should be wearing a cloth mask or other types of face coverings while entering the airport. The rules state that the person would be forbidden to travel if they do not wear a mask. The guidelines also provide for wearing masks and gloves during the flight and during the disembarkation process. The passenger should also disclose his medical status during the reservation and notification stage, while stating if they have any symptoms of coronavirus disease. The GACA guide specifies that each passenger be allowed to carry only one piece of personal baggage inside the cabin. It also encourages the use of electronic payment methods thus reducing the use of banknotes. The guide called for maintaining safe distance throughout the travel process, by avoiding converging lines in the boarding stage, inside buses and passenger bridges, and at places where service is provided by standing on the marked areas. The passenger"s guide also indicated that GACA has provided sterilizers throughout the Kingdom"s 28 airports, and has mandated that all airport and air crew personnel to undergo medical examination, sterilization of their hands, and wear masks and gloves at all times. GACA, also at every three hours, cleanses all airports and all the aircraft used for the flights — after each flight. The flights will be scheduled such that the time periods between the departing or arriving flights are not less than three hours to ensure the cleaning of the facilities and the planes used by travelers for every trip. GACA guide which highlighted preventive measures in the Kingdom"s airports, has also indicated that those flying will be allowed entry to airport, with the exception of those accompanying minors and people with disabilities. All entrants to the airport will have their temperature measured. GACA revealed that it had set up glass barriers separating passengers and traffic assistants to issue a boarding pass and checking in of the luggage, and has also approved maintaining a distance of 2 meters between travelers with clear marked areas. The GACA guide also approved spacing between passengers in waiting areas. This is achieved by leaving an empty seat between every traveler and another. The distance of 2 meters between people should be maintained at all service providers, restaurants and cafes, in addition to adhering to these distancing protocols while embarking onto the flight. Passenger bridges, passenger transport buses and medical cranes will be cleaned with disinfectant before and after the use for each trip. In the plane all passengers would be required to wear masks and gloves for the duration of the flight. The application of spacing between passengers inside the plane will be done by allocating vacant seats between passengers. Each passenger is allowed to carry only one piece of personal baggage inside the cabin. GACA’s guide also calls for the gradual disembarkation of passengers from the plane, the use of only 50% of the operating capacity of the passenger / bus bridge, with the person needing to wear masks while disembarking. Disinfection devices will be provided at the first entry point to the hall and all passengers would need to be disinfected through the available devices. The GACA guide also provides for areas for sanitary isolation of suspected cases. Persons have to follow the guidance stickers that show where each passenger stops while leaving the hall and in the baggage collection area. All are obliged to stand on the guiding stickers in a waiting area while cleaning luggage carts continuously after each use. The guide also called on persons to get rid of masks and gloves in the trash cans available at the airport, and placing the luggage carts in the disinfection area. — SPA