At the request of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), Genève Aéroport has developed a detailed protection plan to be put in place to guarantee the health and safety of its employees, passengers and visitors. The plan is based on the Federal Council’s epidemiological and health guidelines as well as on aviation-specific recommendations from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) is responsible for ensuring that the relevant rules are correctly applied. In this case, individual responsibility, hand hygiene and respect for social distancing as far as possible remain the watchwords in the light of the evolution of the pandemic. When social distancing can no longer be respected, wearing a mask is essential for passengers and for the airport platform's employees.
Social distancing and wearing a mask
During their journey, passengers are faced with some situations where the recommended social distancing cannot be complied with, especially during periods of high traffic. Following the instructions of the health authorities and in application of Genève Aéroport’s protection plan, the wearing of a mask is strongly recommended as soon as social distancing cannot be respected.
Employees of the platform are equipped with masks, gloves and in some cases glasses when necessary. New procedures are applied to minimise contact with passengers. To respect the social distancing necessary in waiting areas, one seat out of two remains unavailable; stickers and floor markings indicate the maximum capacities of lifts and specific locations. Buses that carry travellers on the apron also operate with limited capacity during off-peak periods. In order to protect both employees and passengers, the counters are equipped with plexiglass, in particular in the following places: check-in, Visitors Centre, security checks, reception, GVAssistance reception.
Flow and traffic in the terminal
Markings on the ground with stickers and posts in the queues are a reminder of social distancing. Arrows on the ground precisely indicate the direction of passenger flow, in order to avoid crossovers as much as possible. Posters and loudspeaker messages remind the public of the health and safety instructions to be observed. Genève Aéroport staff and site partners ensure compliance with health measures.
Hand hygiene and enhanced cleaning
Passengers have access to disinfectant dispensers at key points (main terminal entrances, security checks, boarding gates, etc.). In order to avoid any risk of spreading, a professional cleaning service ensures the disinfection of stair handrails, door handles, lift buttons, switches, taps, reception desks, trays for objects at the passage of security and counters.
Compliance with the measures recommended by the health authorities will largely depend on the individual responsibility of all. The implementation of the protection plan is also based on an important information system. Inside the airport, FOPH posters, messages and flyers are regularly distributed so that everyone has access to the latest information. The check-in screens display the hygiene and protection measures to be respected. It is up to everyone to consult the GVApp, Twitter or frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the gva.ch website before embarking on a trip, as the situation changes from day to day.
Information dated 28.05.2020.