HKIA enhances preventive health measures as transfer services resume

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has enhanced the health measures at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to prepare for the gradual resumption of transfer/transit services on 1 June 2020.

All passengers – including departing, arriving and transfer/transit passengers – and airport staff are required to wear face masks in all passenger accessible areas of HKIA’s restricted area until further notice.

Other preventive measures include:

• All transfer/transit and arriving passengers must undergo body temperature screening upon arrival
• Transfer/transit passengers are requested to go directly to the boarding gates for their connecting flights immediately
• Transfer/transit passengers are given stickers at transfer points for identification purpose
• Passengers are reminded to keep a safe physical distance of at least 1.5m from each other when standing in queues
• Alcohol-based hand rub dispensers and sanitising floor mats are available at each arrival gate and throughout the entire terminal
• Cleaning and disinfection of the boarding gate area and airbridge are carried out after each arriving flight
• Protective screens are installed at service counters, including airline check-in counters and customer services centres
• Designated dining areas are set up for transfer/transit passengers.

Measures for airport staff include temperature check upon entering the terminal and frontline staff are provided with personal protective equipment and disinfection supplies.

A daily briefing occurs to remind staff on the protective measures and COVID-19 tests are provided by the Department of Health for airport staff.

Vivian Cheung, Executive Director, Airport Operations of the AAHK, said: “On the basis of protecting health and safety of passengers and airport staff as our top priority, it is of paramount importance for HKIA as a major international aviation hub to resume transfer/transit services. We have been working closely with the government, airlines and our business partners to put in place a set of comprehensive measures to ensure a smooth resumption of transfer/transit services and a safe end-to-end journey for passengers.”