New style of air travel in changed situation
Photo: Collected
Much of the world has changed because of coronavirus. A lot of known things can no longer be seen. Coronavirus in particular has had the greatest impact on the aircraft sector. In a modified form, air travel will resume from Monday (June 1).
After more than two months of lockdown, air transport has resumed from Monday, but many old rules are being changed.
Now the cabin crew will no longer be seen with known uniform. Everyone will serve passengers on the flight wearing PPEs. When someone else calls Cabin crew and wants it, wants it - can't say. No airlines will provide food on domestic routes anymore. All this is being done in accordance with the rules of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
In the meantime, the regulatory body of the country's airlines, CAAB has drawn up a guideline under the ICAO's guidelines. According to the guideline, a passenger must maintain a distance of at least three feet with another - this must be complied with in order to ensure social distancing. In this case, the passenger will sit in one seat of the aircraft; the side seat will be empty. All airlines have to operate the flight in accordance with this rule until the corona situation becomes normal.
On the first day, US-Bangla Airlines will carry passengers from Dhaka to Chittagong, Sylhet and Syedpur routes. Besides, there are plans to operate flights on Cox's Bazaar, Jashore, Barisal and Rajshahi routes as per the decision of the government.
Kamrul Islam, General Manager (PR) of US-Bangla Airlines, told Barta24.com that due to the changed situation, all passengers have to wear masks and hand gloves while maintaining social distancing as per the instructions of Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority. Pilot, cabin crew wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), operate flights with the permission of Civil Aviation Authority after disinfection of aircraft before each schedule flight times at 45 minutes interval on flight schedule, hand sanitizing passengers, flight hand sanitizing. The flight will be operated in accordance with the closure flight food service during 1.30 hours journey.
Mahfuzul Alam, senior manager (marketing and sales) of NovoAir, told Barta24.com that their airlines’ are also going to operate the flight following all the rules of CAAB. All kinds of preparations have been completed for this purpose.
Meanwhile, state flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines is also launching flights from Monday following all the instructions of the government. Biman Managing Director and CEO Mokabbir Hossain said Biman would operate Dhaka-Chittagong-Dhaka, Dhaka-Sylhet-Dhaka, Dhaka-Syedpur-Dhaka routes on Monday. Tickets can be purchased through ‘Mobile Apps’ websites, tap agents and aircraft sales centers.
CAAB said there are no exceptions for domestic flights. Two passengers can not sit side by side inside the aircraft. If a passenger sits in a seat, the seat next to him should be left empty. If there are six seats in each row, then the seat in the middle of each row will be empty. In this case, if there are two to four seats in each row, then one seat will have passengers, the other will be empty. A row of seats must be left vacant at the front or back of each flight. If a passenger feels ill in the middle of a flight, he or she must be seated separately in that row.
A maximum of 70 per cent passengers can be transported on a single flight if the instructions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are followed. In addition to seating rules, aircraft must be disinfected every time before take-off and after landing. After the disinfection, the representatives of CAAB will see and certify the process, after which the aircraft will fly in the sky. In addition, passengers on each flight will be given brand new masks and hand gloves.
Earlier, CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mofidur Rahman had made it clear that everyone should start flying in accordance with the hygienic rules.
