Turkey Resumes Flights: How Has Air Travel Changed?

Photos: AA

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Turkey today (June 1) resumed domestic flights with a series of new measures, including distanced seating and obligatory use of face masks.

Speaking at a ceremony in İstanbul before the first commercial flight since early April, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu said important steps were taken by the government in order to return to normal days with respect to road, rail and air travel.

Airports taking preventive health measures will document their status by getting a certification, he said.

The certificate includes not only the airport and terminal operators and ground handling companies, but also the transportation vehicles that bring passengers to the airport, and the necessary measures to be taken by each institution and organization, including passengers.

The certification process of six airports — İstanbul, Sabiha Gökçen, Esenboğa, İzmir Adnan Menderes, Antalya and Trabzon — has been completed thus far, the minister added.

The following measures have been taken in airports and planes to prevent Covid-19 infection:

*Passengers' body temperatures were measured before boarding.

*Passengers were handed out a "hygiene package," which includes masks and antiseptic wipes.

*Some seats were left empty to maintain social distance between passengers. In four-seat rows, two passengers sat on each ends, in two-seat-rows, one seat was left empty.

*Water was served in single-use, closed plastic cups.

*Passengers were not allowed to remove their face masks.

*Passengers had to notice flight attendants in advance before going to the restroom.

*There were no magazines in the back bags of the seats. (AS/VK)