22/06/2020 Monday 22nd June 2020: Shannon Airport employees are busily readying the airport in preparation for the return of passengers on the 1st July. While the airport remained open for essential services to facilitate cargo, repatriation and emergency flights during the COVID-19 crisis, scheduled passenger services were suspended since the onset of the pandemic. Shannon Airport is now implementing a series of rigorous new public health measures to protect the health and safety of returning passengers and employees at the airport. Ryanair is due to recommence 16 services from Shannon Airport starting from the 1st July to the following destinations: Alicante, Barcelona-Reus, Faro, Fuerteventura, Kaunas, Krakow, Lanzarote, London-Gatwick, London-Stansted, Malaga, Manchester, Palma, Tenerife, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Vienna. Commenting on the new measures a spokesperson for Shannon Group said: “The health and safety of our passengers and employees is our number one priority. We have remained open throughout the pandemic, facilitating the arrival into Ireland of vital PPE equipment and were proud to do so. Preparations are now underway to ensure that our passengers returning to Shannon Airport can feel confident with the COVID-19 measures we have put in place throughout the airport. “We are aiming to make the journey from arrival at the airport car park to boarding an airplane as easy and as contactless as possible. Our airline partners have also introduced new health and safety measures and we will continue to work with them to protect passengers through their entire journey.” “Shannon Airport is a vital national strategic piece of infrastructure that plays an essential part in bringing business people, tourists and cargo to the region. The ability of this region to rebuild in the aftermath of this pandemic is reliant on having a strong airport and we are working to put measures in place to have airport passenger services up and running with health and safety our priority,” said the Spokesperson. New COVID-19 Health and Safety Measures at the Airport In as much as is possible, new measures in place, will involve a contactless journey through the airport with minimal touchpoints. Over 4,000 pieces of COVID-19 signage have been installed on route to the airport and inside the terminal building. Multiple sanitiser dispensers and special hand sanitation stations, along with disinfectant wipes have been installed throughout the airport starting at the entry doors. In addition to its normal cleaning services, the airport has introduced specialised COVID-19 deep cleaning and sanitisation services. Shannon Airport strongly recommends that all passengers bring and wear a face covering when inside the airport terminal building. Protective glass screens have been erected at key customer facing areas throughout the terminal building including at check-in, all customer service desks, security screening areas, retail and at boarding gates. The two-metre social distancing guidelines have been implemented throughout with floor signage. Public seating has been reconfigured to ensure observation of the two-metre protocol with stickers on seats which will be left vacant to ensure social distancing. The airport’s Public Address System will incorporate social distancing reminders for passengers which will be repeated at regular intervals. The measures reflect the national COVID-19 Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines and government code of practice guidelines for Air Passengers taking on board the best practice guidelines developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Your Journey Through Shannon Airport Face Coverings: Shannon Airport strongly recommends that all passengers bring and wear a face covering when inside the airport terminal building. This recommendation applies to both arriving and departing passengers. In line with Irish Government guidelines, children under the age of 13 and passengers who have a valid medical reason are exempt from wearing a face covering. Face mask vending machines will also be available at the airport for those passengers who forget to bring one. Airport employees are requested to wear face masks in the airport where social distancing is difficult or not possible. Airport Car Parking: For a contactless experience at the airport car park, we recommend online pre-booking at shannonairport.ie in advance. Contactless pay machines are located at entry and exit points in the airport car park. Customers who have pre-booked, will have their car registration scanned at the barrier and will be automatically admitted to the car park. Customers who have not pre-booked online will need to press for a ticket on arrival but can use contactless payment upon departure from the car park. All airport car park payments must be with credit/debit cards only. Entry to the Terminal Building: Only passengers with a valid ticket should enter the Departures or Check-in area of the airport terminal building. If you are meeting an arriving passenger or seeing off someone who is travelling, please do not come into the terminal. This is in line with the governments code of practice recommendations. Online Check-In Advised: Passengers are advised to check-in online via their airline’s website or mobile app before they arrive at the airport if possible. Glass separation screens have been installed at all airline check-in desks for passengers who need to check-in at the airport. Hygiene: We would encourage proper hand hygiene, sneeze and cough etiquette, during your time at the Airport. To assist we have provided multiple hand sanitising units at locations throughout the airport for the use of passengers and employees. Signage will encourage passengers to wash their hands frequently and properly with soap and water and hand sanitising gel. COVID-19 signage has been installed en route to the airport and inside the terminal building. Multiple sanitiser dispensers and special hand sanitation stations, along with disinfectant wipes have been installed throughout the airport starting at the entry doors. In addition to its normal cleaning services, the airport has introduced specialised COVID-19 deep cleaning and sanitisation services. Physical Distancing: Physical distancing and queue management systems have been put in place throughout the airport. There are floor markings and signage throughout to remind passengers of the importance of physical distancing. Public address announcements broadcast at frequent intervals, will remind passengers to maintain physical distancing. Airport Seating Arrangements: Socially distanced seating is in place throughout, in areas such as boarding gates, food and beverage outlets and the arrivals area. This will mean that certain seats will be blocked off to ensure that social distancing can be maintained. Additional Cleaning Measures: Strict cleaning processes have been enhanced to protect passengers and employees from COVID-19. There will be regular deep cleaning and disinfection regimes in the airport. All key contact surfaces such as security trays, self-service kiosks and escalator handrails will undergo enhanced regular cleaning. There will also be a specific focus on any areas where passengers might dwell. Protective Screens: Protective glass screens are being installed at close contact points throughout the airport. There will be new glass screens in areas such as check-in, security screening, retail and food & beverage outlets, customer service desks, boarding gates, and US Customs and Border Protection. Airport Shopping and Dining: Passengers are requested to limit the use of cash in shops, bars and restaurants, with contactless payments the preferred choice across all outlets when they reopen. Socially distanced seating will be in place. Physical distancing queueing will be in place when shopping and ordering food at the airport. Once food orders are placed, customers will return to their seats and their orders will be delivered to their tables. Airport Sensory Room and Play Areas: Hand sanitising units and sanitising wipe stations are available in the airport’s Sensory Room and Children’s Play Areas. Customers are encouraged to use these before and after using these facilities. In addition, these areas will be sanitised at regular intervals throughout the day. For further information please visit www.shannonairport.ie