AirAsia social distancing measures include 5 kg cabin baggage restriction

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

As AirAsia prepares to resume domestic and international flights from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, it has issued guidelines on social distancing pre-flight and inflight on 26 April 2020.

According to Captain Ling Liong Tien, Chief Safety Officer of AirAsia, the low-cost airline social distancing measures include 5 kg cabin baggage restriction, seat distancing, floor markers at airports and alternate check-in counters.

5 kg cabin baggage restriction means that each passenger is only allowed to bring onboard one lap-top, one shoulder bag or one handbag. Captain Ling said, "This will help minimise unwanted contact between you and another guest's baggage and vice versa".

The tighter cabin baggage restriction suggests that passengers can no longer bring onboard one cabin luggage that weighs 7 kg and of total dimensions 115 cm. Such luggage has to be paid in advance for check-in at the airports or the 7 kg baggage may become redundant in AirAsia carriage.

The tighter cabin baggage restriction in relation to social distancing cannot be understood. Baggage distancing has nothing to do with virus transmission as the passenger on mask is located less than 100 cm away from another masked passenger. 

Social distancing is a factor for virus transmission if a passenger does not put on a face mask throughout the flight as the virus may spread to a masked passenger easily. If a passenger wants to eat snacks and hot meals onboard the flight, the other passenger must have put on a mask and must not eat anything at the same time as the other passenger who is eating.

In short, only two passengers can sit in one row, one next to a window and the other by the aisle.

On seat distancing, Captain Ling announced, "when flight occupancy allows for guests to move within respective zones under cabin crew's guideline", seat distancing will be practised. This practice suggests it is no longer useful to pre-pay for a window seat online. There is no favourable seat of choice anymore but it may be possible for cabin crew to allocate the front row seat to a passenger if it is empty and if the seat is 100 cm apart from another passenger. However, this may suggest higher travel cost on AirAsia flights as the airline seeks to recover costs from the pandemic.

On floor markers at airports and alternate check-in counters, the latter will be available at terminals where there are very few flights during the pandemic to maintain social distancing. For instance, AirAsia Group of airlines have no plans to change operations from Changi Airport Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 or Terminal 3. There will be enough alternate check-in counters at Terminal 4 for AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia and AirAsia Philippines. The floor markers are found at queuing areas including check-in counters and kiosks.

Captain Ling further said during the pandemic, all cabin crew will wear protective attire, disposable gloves and face masks to serve passengers. All AirAsia aircraft are fitted with HEPA filters normally used in hospitals to filter out viruses, bacteria and particles.

The full text of Captain Ling Liong Tien:

COVID-19: Flying safe with AirAsia - Safety measures AirAsia implements On-Ground and In-flight To Ensure You Arrive Safely And In Good Health At Your Destination

Your health and safety is always our top priority. As we prepare to return to the skies, you have our commitment that now, more than ever, this remains true.  We are looking forward to once again connecting people and places and recognise the duty to do so responsibly and with care. AirAsia is working closely with regulators, local governments, civil aviation and health authorities, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and adhering to their expert advice. While we are doing this, we also need your cooperation with the following to ensure that you have a smooth, memorable journey with us:

- First and foremost, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are eligible to travel, be it international or domestic before booking a flight. Please refer here to check on travel restrictions and special requirements.  - All AirAsia guests will be required to bring their own mask and wear it properly before, during and after the flight, including during check-in and bag collection. Guests without a mask will be denied boarding.  - Carry-on cabin baggage - to facilitate social distancing especially during embarkation and disembarkation, we will only allow ONE piece of cabin baggage not exceeding 5 kg for each guest. This will help minimise unwanted contact between you and another guest’s baggage and vice versa. More details are available here.  - Please arrive early at the airport - preferably 3 hours before departure - to allow for enough time for all the necessary processes to take place.

To ensure that the highest standards of safety and hygiene are maintained at all times, here are some of the measures AirAsia is taking on the ground and in the air:

Aircraft cleaning: - Aircraft will undergo disinfection including a deep clean performed using cleaning agents in accordance with Airbus Aircraft maintenance Manual (AMM) by professional cleaning teams - Every night stop, aircraft goes under a thorough 2-hour cleaning procedure, in compliance with instructions from health authorities - For more information on aircraft disinfection, click here.

Pre-flight: - Temperature screening will take place at different checkpoints, including boarding gates - Cabin crew will go through temperature checks after every shift - Social distancing will be observed with floor markers at queuing areas, including check-in counters & kiosks - Alternate check-in counters will be opened to keep social distancing - Hand sanitizers will be available through journey processing point for guests and staff - Cabin will be disinfected via aerosol spraying before departure of all domestic and international flights - Pre-flight briefings on safety and hygiene will be conducted for all boarding cabin crew to ensure we are consistently following the most up-to-date advice  - Contactless web and mobile check-in to reduce surface and physical contact in check-in and boarding processes

In-flight: - All AirAsia aircraft are fitted with HEPA filters normally used in hospitals, which filter out particles and airborne contaminants such as viruses and bacteria - All cabin crew will be in protective equipment including masks and gloves - We will observe seat distancing, when flight occupancy allows, for guests to move within respective zones, under cabin crew’s guidance - Food Safety     - All meals are produced and packaged hygienically following strict food safety requirements     - All production staff will regularly be monitored on COVID-19 guidelines      - Cabin crew handling menu items will wear disposable gloves  - Cabin crew are well trained to assist with any medical situation inflight including identification and isolation of anyone onboard who may feel unwell - Temperature checks will occur before arrival to destinations where temperature screening is mandatory

Arrival:  - Health declaration forms will be handed out to be filled out before or on arrival - Thermal screening will take place upon arrival - Transit passengers will be asked to stay at the airport - Mandatory quarantine may take place as per regulations at your destination country

How can you do your part?  We ask that you observe the universally recommended protective precautionary measures, including practising high personal hygiene.  Please be reminded, once again, that you are required to bring your own mask and wear it properly before, during and after the flight, including during check-in and bag collection; failing which, you will not be accepted on the flight.

Thank you for your continued support, we look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon. Captain Ling Liong Tien Chief Safety Officer AirAsia