Travel in Lockdown is a new nightmare
Indian domestic flights have just opened up. The plans were speeded up for opening the Indian skies to domestic Airlines. It’s the hurry insisted upon by the companies who feared closure of further delayed. The speed with which it was launched gives scope for lots of new experiences and learning.
Airlines travel won’t remain a great luxury any more. The preparation and actual experiences will be unique and sharpened awareness of the issues related to such closed and small group travel will become mandatory.
Critics will have a gala time finding faults in the process and the mistakes that are sure to be made. Mistakes can be costly not just for the one making it but for all Co passengers and the crew of the airlines.
Indians are sure to learn to travel light as there would be lot of difficulties involved in tugging along or pulling the baggage.
Security checks will be more strict and scrutiny will be tough. Touch and contact of passengers will have to suitably planned with use of long handled equipments of scrutiny.
Thermal screening will require high precision machines . There were issues of passengers taking tablets before journey to escape being traced with fever or illness .
The focus of the security team scanning baggage will require further sharpened awareness of the risks of carrying items of soiled clothes and medical items on board.
Cabin baggage will require further screening on entry into the plane.
Airlines may have its own thermal screening for accuracy to ensure the readings are not missed or skipped or bribed for passing through at the entrance of the airport.
First time errors are bound to be highlighted by ruthless story tellers and professional liars among the press that is waiting to declare failure of every activity of the government and its agencies.
Drinking water on the plane will have further challenges. Carrying own bottles from home may be a good option as services on the airport will have challenges of serving without touch and touching glasses or water stations. Water station designs will have to suitably modified for remote sensor linked water supply.
Many will require guidance for self check ins as even the well trained can be caught napping.
Service on the food courts will require highly trained and focused staff and agents. Hygiene standards and packaging will also need very precise high quality service to ensure safety of all passenger using the facility.
Remaining starving for over 150 minutes will be a challenge for diabetics and needy who may be allowed to carry limited safely packed dry food.
New customer service norms may need invisible agents , as also distant ones and safely situated or willing to give instructions from afar to avoid touch. breath, cough or sneezing close to passengers.
The health norms of the airlines staff will undergo drastic change and daily check ups tests will be the key to their excellence at work.
Those allergic to food smells and smoke or scents can be in great trouble in front of the service agents and security agents.
Security check without close touch or groping can be challenging for the security officers who need to be alert for terror groups or anti national elements waiting to create more trouble in the country .Carrying items banned on flight will need closer sophisticated automated check in movement to the counter for check in.
Wish and pray all airlines work in close coordination with police,health officers, doctors, government officers and the airlines top officers and make this opening up a success for all.
Some states have not logged in to the new tightened security norms and Mumbai is one centre not prepared to get in line for this service. It may join later keeping in minds it’s unpreparedness.
Hope safe airports safe players and easy
Travels becomes a reality soon once international travel begins soon.
Muralidharan R Nair
Bamgalore murali04@gmail.com
Lockdown diaries
25th May 2020
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