PASSENGERS are being welcomed back to Birmingham Airport following heavily reduced demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Services have recommenced with easyjet, Air France, KLM, Wizz Air, Loganair, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Eurowings – with more services due to restart from mid-July with Jet2 and TUI.
A number of new measures have been implemented for the safety and wellbeing of passengers and staff.
An enhanced cleaning regime is in place across the site, with all customer touch points regularly disinfected and hand sanitiser stations available throughout the airport.
It is mandatory to wear face coverings in the security search area, airport buses, the immigration hall and in baggage reclaim – and passengers are strongly advised to wear them while in the terminal.
Passengers are encouraged to check in on-line, pre-book services, use contactless payments and download electronic travel documentation to avoid queuing and minimise face-to-face contact.
Social distancing is encouraged throughout the site, in line with government guidance.
Only flying customers are now allowed into the terminal, to manage the number of people inside the building as traffic volumes increase. Arrival and departure passenger routes will also be segregated.
Thermal imaging is currently being trialled for those entering the departure zone.
Nick Barton, Birmingham Airport’s CEO, said: “It’s great to see airlines reinstating flights from Birmingham after a period of reduced traffic due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The safety of our customers and employees is our number one priority. We have introduced a number of new measures for their wellbeing, with cleaning and hygiene, social distancing, thermal imaging, face coverings and physical barriers underpinning the new airport environment.
“Birmingham Airport is well and truly open for business and we look forward to seeing the airport come alive again in the coming weeks and welcoming customers back to the airport.”
Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, also welcomed the news that many airlines would be restarting services.
He said: “It’s fantastic to see a number of airlines are restarting services from Birmingham Airport this month as we continue to take incremental steps towards the long road to recovery.
“Today’s news will provide a welcome shot in the arm for an industry that has seen demand levels take a drastic hit as the impact of Covid-19 continues to cast a long and deep rooted shadow.
“Trialling the use of thermal imagery along with introducing a range of measures which adhere to the utmost standards of passenger safety are also welcome – it’s the type of innovative thinking that’s required right now in order to overcome a crisis of this magnitude.
“Lifting the blanket restrictions on those travelling by air will not only provide reassurance to the financial markets and a welcome upshot for investors but it will also give members of the public the confidence they need to start heading overseas again.”
Visit https://youtu.be/I2dw-WrBI2Q to watch Birmingham Airport’s video which summarises the new measures and helps customers prepare for the next time they fly.
