Covid-19: Airports Company of South Africa announces new procedures for Alert Level 3

The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has placed extensive physical measures, standard operating procedures and staff training in place for Alert Level 3 regulations.

The company opened its three largest airports on 1 June – O.R Tambo International, Cape Town International and King Shaka International – following the publication of a Government Gazette stating the regulations and requirements for aviation under Alert Level 3 announced by Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula.

Spokesperson for ACSA, Gopolang Peme said that the measures implemented are comprehensive and cover every aspect of the passenger’s journey from the airport entrance to boarding an aircraft.

Peme added, “As the minister has stated, reopening of domestic air travel is being done in a phased manner that will be guided, among other considerations, by the availability of the necessary Port Health resources to conduct screening. We have been geared to provide the necessary facilities and services from the first day.”

They added that passengers will find a considerable change in airport environments and the new procedures take time. Passengers are recommended to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure.

The Airports Company of South Africa recommends that passengers familiarise themselves with the new procedures as detailed below.

Arriving at the airport
• Passengers must use drop-and-go facilities or public transport as only passengers will be allowed into the terminal
• Limited parkade options will be available. These are signposted at each airport.
• Meeters and greeters will not be allowed in the terminal building.
• Baggage wrapping is now compulsory for all check-in luggage for hygiene reasons.

Airport entrances and access control
• A number of access points have been closed at each airport. Please visit the Airports Company website for details on which access points and terminal entrance points should be used.
• Access to terminal buildings will be restricted.
• Physical distancing rules will apply at the terminal entrance.
• Masks are compulsory from entry to the airport all the way through a flight and out of the destination airport.
• Port Health will conduct screening checks at entrances.
• Passengers must produce their business travel permission letters at the entrance.
• It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that they have the necessary permission letter before they book a flight.

Check-in process
• Passengers should check in online before going to the airport.
• Online check-in can be done at the screens in the terminal building.
• A limited number of check-in counters will be open and physical distancing rules will apply in these queues.
• Passengers are advised that using a check-in counter will take longer.

Security checkpoint process
• Passengers will scan their own paper-based or mobile device-based boarding pass at the scanner at the security checkpoint.
• Passengers should remove any metal and electronic items from their person before entering the security queue. This includes mobile devices, watches, jewellery, wallets, keys and so on.
• These items must be placed in the tray at the security scanner.
• This process will minimise the need for security officers to conduct physical pat-downs at the checkpoint.

Boarding the aircraft
• Physical distancing rules apply for queues to board an aircraft.
• Passengers must scan their own boarding pass at the boarding gate.
• Boarding will be done in a controlled manner with passengers travelling in the rear seats of the aircraft boarding first. Passengers with tickets for Row A, for example, will board last.
• Masks must be worn for the duration of the flight.

Disembarking from an aircraft
• Masks must continue to be used when disembarking and moving towards the baggage carousels.
• Physical distancing rules will apply at the baggage carousels.
• Crowding close to the baggage carousels will not be permitted.

Details: Airports Company of South Africa www.airports.co.za

*Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news

Dear reader,

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).