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Ryanair will restore 40 percent of its scheduled flights starting July 1, and passengers are asked to wear face masks and pass temperature controls, he says.
The return would see almost 1,000 flights a day through 90 percent of its “pre-Covid network”, subject to government restrictions on lifting flights within the EU and implementing effective public health measures at airports.
Flights starting July 1 are now available to book from € 19.99 each way.
Since Covid-19’s flight restrictions were applied in mid-March, Ryanair has been operating just 1% of its normal services: “a daily skeleton schedule” of 30 flights between Ireland, the UK and Europe.
A video released by the airline gives an idea of what the flight could be like this summer, with passengers performing temperature controls and wearing face masks or covers in terminals and on board planes.
He advises passengers to check their own temperatures before leaving home, and says that temperature checks can also be done at airports: “If you don’t pass them, you’ll be asked to return home,” says Ryanair.
“As already shown in Asia, temperature controls and face masks / liners are the most effective way to [limit the spread of Covid-19] in the short term within Europe’s single market, “said Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson.
However, the carrier does not suggest who would operate or pay for such checks.
Other changes may include fewer checked bags, downloading boarding passes to smartphones to eliminate paper contact points, and encourage social distancing at airports and on board “where possible.”
All onboard transactions will be cashless, Ryanair says, queuing to go to the bathroom will be prohibited (“although access to the bathroom will be available to individual passengers upon request”), and there will be limited service during the flight.
“Rest assured that all Ryanair aircraft are professionally cleaned and disinfected daily, which is effective for more than 24 hours,” says the video.
The cabin crew will also wear face masks / covers, Ryanair adds.
The announcement comes as airlines around the world seek new health and safety protocols – to protect customers and crew, prevent the coronavirus from spreading, and reassure passengers when travel resumes.
Air France, KLM and Lufthansa have already made the masks mandatory on flights, for example, while Emirates recently said it was the first airline to conduct “Covid-19 rapid tests” on passengers.
However, the question of how health checks will be agreed and paid, for example, by airlines, airports or coordinated by national governments or the EU, is hotly debated within the industry.
“It is important to our customers and our people that we return to some normal hours starting July 1,” added Ryanair’s Wilson.
“After four months, it is time to get Europe flying again so that we can get together with friends and family, allow people to return to work and restart Europe’s tourism industry, which provides so many millions of jobs.”
As an additional temporary public health measure, as EU states emerge from Covid-19 blockades, Ryanair will also require all passengers flying in July and August to fill in details (during check-in) of how long their planned visit, and also says your address while visiting another EU country
This information will be provided to EU governments “to help them monitor the privacy regulations that require visitors on flights within the EU.”
“We will continue to work closely with public health agencies to encourage our people and passengers to take practical and effective measures to limit the spread of [the] The Covid-19 virus, in the best interest of our passengers, our people and our communities, “said Wilson.
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