The new security concept in 9 steps

No fever measurement, but cleaning robots and 200 disinfection dispensers: Zurich Airport, Swiss, Swissport and the cantonal police have developed new measures for better hygiene. The duty-free sale has been suspended, but the airline remains committed to selling the Swiss Schöggeli.

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A picture from the old days: In future, passengers at Zurich Airport will no longer stand this close together.

Christian Beutler / KEYSTONE

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It starts again in June. Then Swiss would like to increase its flight volume from the current three to up to 20 percent. And foreign airlines also want to fly to Zurich again. To minimize the risk of infection due to the corona pandemic, Zurich Airport has developed a new protection concept together with the cantonal police, Swiss and the ground handling company Swiss. They presented the measures on Thursday morning.

If possible, only every second check-in counter is used so that the queuing passengers have more space. There are also floor markings for a safety distance. Passengers are advised at the counter, where plexiglass protective windows are, that they should wear a mask for the trip. Around 200 disinfection dispensers were also installed along the entire travel process. New cleaning robots are also used, as are Selecta machines with hygiene articles.

The passengers are spread over two floors as much as possible. During the actual inspection, the employees of the cantonal police wear gloves and – at their own discretion – hygiene masks. You can also instruct travelers to put on a mask.

The cantonal police will open as many counters as possible to avoid long lines. In addition, larger queues are created here, so that social distancing is feasible.

“The air travel also includes catering and the commercial offer,” says airport manager Stefan Tschudin. A minimal offer is planned from June 15th. Swiss will decide in June whether it will reopen the lounges.

Here, too, there are minimum queues. If it is not always possible to have a distance of two meters, the employees can call out a mask recommendation. There are plexiglass windows at the counter to protect employees and passengers. Air Canada and Alitalia are already carrying out examinations in Zurich with so-called exit screens. According to Swissport, more buses are used so that they are not too full while driving to the machine.

Swiss CEO Thomas Frick confirms the goal of 20 percent flight volume from mid-June. That corresponds to 190 flights a week to 41 destinations. “The top priority is to protect employees and passengers,” says Frick. The cleaning of the cabin is intensified, for example at the tables or seat belts. Since the beginning of May, Swiss employees and travelers have been recommended to wear a mask, as it is not always possible to guarantee social distancing. You will have to accept cuts. So magazines and newspapers were removed from the cabin and duty-free sales are suspended.

Frick emphasizes that the risk of infection on board is very low for technical reasons. “The air quality on board is definitely better than in offices.” There are also no known cases in which passengers were infected in an airplane. In First and Business Class, Swiss no longer works with open tablets, fruits have to be peeled themselves. In the economy, every guest receives a small PET bottle. There is no open serving. “But of course we will continue to make the Swiss-Schöggeli available,” said Frick.

Social distancing is the top priority here too. “We will be able to use the large areas in the docks and terminals so that there is enough space available,” says airport manager Tschudin. Already in March, a so-called entry screening was prepared, i.e. fever measurement for travelers, in the event that this was required by the authorities. But this is not yet being implemented.

Every passenger is still checked. From June 15th, the control will cease at least for flights from Germany, Austria and France. “The future is still uncertain for third-country nationals,” says Ueli Zoelly, head of the airport police. The automatic border control should be used increasingly.

Whenever possible, only every second baggage carousel should be in operation in order to ensure sufficient distance. Large pick-up committees are not allowed. Only one person per passenger may be in the waiting area. Access controls are provided for this.

Swiss assumes that 50 percent of the usual flight volume will be reached by the end of the year. The big challenge is that the process flow should not take forever. “Otherwise we will never reach the level of 2019,” says Swiss Head of Operations Thomas Frick.

The Federal Office of Public Health said a few days ago that the airports are also used to check general fever measurements and corona tests (CH Media reported). This measure is now being dispensed with, as airport operations chief Stefan Tschudin says. Because you can carry the virus even without a fever. “But if the rule came from the authorities to measure fever, we would be equipped for it.” The Swiss authorities, however, would be responsible for corona tests, not the airport, Tschudin said.

And why is it only a mask recommendation instead of a mask requirement? “We would have to check this legally from country to country,” says Swiss manager Frick. It is also unclear how the cabin crew should deal with passengers who do not wear a mask. “That’s why we leave it at the recommendation.” Experience has shown that practically all passengers would follow this recommendation. He also expects a lot of social pressure on board if individual passengers swerve.