As airlines ready to resume services after the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new site offers guidance to both industry and passengers on the new procedures which will allow air travel to restart safely from both an operational and public health point of view. It includes detailed FAQs for passengers, so they can better understand why the measures mean it is safe to fly.

“The new passenger content will make it much easier for members of the public to understand the core activities of EASA and the Agency’s overall contribution to making air travel safe. The launch is particularly timely as it coincides with the restart of flight operations in Europe,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky. “Our visitors from the aviation industry will also benefit from the ability to sign in and stay informed on new developments, updates and changes in an efficient and proactive way.”

The website has a new fresh design which enhances its usability, improves performance and allows mobile users to experience the website as an app. By creating an account, visitors can not only get notifications on updates in their category of interest, but also personalise their stream in the site to meet their specific needs.

A first-time visitor to https://www.easa.europa.eu/ reaches a landing page, offering a choice between:

• EASA Light – for passengers, EU citizens and the general public – and
• EASA Pro – for aviation authorities, industry professionals and media.

EASA Light contains a high level overview of the Agency’s main activities in safety and environmental protection as well as its role as an EU agency and its international activities. In addition, it carries news and feature updates on topics that appeal to a wider audience, such as usage of drones.

EASA Pro hosts the detailed information required by the commercial aviation industry, General Aviation, EASA stakeholders, other regulators and the media. It contains reference documents and all items of record, where there is a legal obligation to publish. EASA Pro visitors are encouraged to create an account to receive notifications of any new development in their areas of interest.

Visitors can switch between EASA Light and EASA Pro at any time and the two parts are interconnected, so that an EASA Light visitor who wants to dig deeper is transferred seamlessly to the Pro side.   

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Ten companies from across Europe declared they would abide by the guidelines developed by EASA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on request of the European Commission. The COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol is based on current scientific information about the spread of COVID-19 and the expert opinion of the two Agencies, and is designed to ensure safe travel for passengers and air personnel.

“I am delighted to welcome these first implementers of our guidelines and charter,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky. “These airlines and airports will lead the way in applying the recommended measures and will share their experiences with us. This will help us to reach the ultimate goal of harmonised, health-safe travel across Europe and to destinations beyond.”   

The first mover group comprises seven airport operators – operating major airports in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and other locations – and three airlines – Aegean Airlines, easyJet and Wizz Air. Full names of the first participating organisations are given in the overview below, together with comments from selected CEOs. Additional signatories to the Charter will be added as they sign up. 

The challenge now for these companies is to determine exactly how to implement the guidelines in their facilities and services so as to achieve the best possible compliance despite the operational constraints. 

Primary recommendations of the guidelines are to observe physical distancing wherever possible, to wear a medical face mask throughout the journey and to practise scrupulous and frequent hand hygiene. 

Passengers themselves are expected to take personal responsibility. For example, passengers who have COVID-19 compatible symptoms (fever, cough, sudden loss of smell, shortness of breath) or who are aware that they have come in contact with a COVID-19 case should not even travel to the airport. 

The following 10 organisations were the first to sign the charter agreement in conjunction with EASA:

Airport operators:
– AENA
– Athens International Airport S.A.
– Brussels Airport Company
– Fraport AG
– S.E.A. Aeroporti di Milano
– Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur
– Paris CDG Airport

Aeroplane operators:
– Aegean Airlines S.A.
– easyJet Plc
– Wizz Air Holdings Plc

Quotes from selected CEOs of participating companies 

Aegean Airlines S.A.
Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO Aegean Airlines: "In this unprecedented situation we consider cooperation across Europe crucial in order to offer the highest possible level of comfort and reassurance to our passengers”.  

AENA
AENA CEO, Maurici Lucena: “Aena is deeply involved with its industry partners to implement all the initiatives that may fulfil the objective of achieving a safe and comforting air travel experience. In this sense, we are eager to participate in the pilot programme launched by EASA, as we find this initiative as extremely relevant and necessary to overcome these challenging times. The four airports within Aena’s network included in the pilot program will be the showcase for the procedures implemented at all of them, to ensure a swift and efficient return to normality to all the passengers, with a special focus on the tourists that will visit our country to enjoy their holidays”.

Athens International Airport S.A.
CEO of Athens International Airport, Dr Yiannis Paraschis, said: “Reaching the goal of harmonized, health-safe travel across Europe and beyond is the key for the return to normality in air-travel during this unprecedented crisis. We feel therefore privileged to have been chosen as one of the “pilot airports” in Europe that will implement and monitor the best practices as indicated by EASA  in order to ensure a health-safe  trip for our passengers and our communities. Standing together and sharing data and knowledge have always been proven strengths of our industry. I am absolutely confident that these principles will once more lead our way towards overcoming this crisis.”

Brussels Airport Company
CEO Arnaud Feist said: "At Brussels Airport, we aim to connect people and businesses in the safest way at the heart of Europe. The safety of our passengers and personnel is key so we are very pleased to be part of the EASA monitoring programme. We want to play a frontline role in developing and providing best practices in air transport, to help safeguard public health and rebuild passengers‘ trust in this unprecedented crisis. To this effect we work every day on the safety at our airport and we look into new technologies and improved processes. We are looking forward to exchanging information with EASA and being one of the pioneer airports in the safe return to normal aviation operations."

easyJet Plc
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, commented: “I am pleased to have signed up to EASA’s charter. We have worked very closely together in order to implement enhanced safety measures for the wellbeing of all onboard. The safety of our customers and crew remains our highest priority. We look forward to welcoming customers onboard in the coming days with the new measures in place.” 

S.E.A. Aeroporti di Milano
SEA C.E.O. Armando Brunini: "SEA, Milan Airports is happy to  contribute to the EASA programme to monitor COVID-19 operations in the aviation industry. Having common European guidelines will guarantee health-safe travel for passengers and staff, which is key for our industry’s restart.”

Groupe ADP, Paris-Charles de Gaulle 
Marc Houalla, Executive Director, Director of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, said: "As the major European hub, taking part in this pilot program is key for the relaunch of our activities at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. In a very short period of time we have been able to implement sanitary measures to help EASA and the ECDC shape a new harmonised international standard. Monitoring and giving feedback to EASA on this new international framework is an important step which allows us to fine-tune and develop best practices within Groupe ADP and the airports we manage worldwide, to quickly and safely restore air connectivity."

Wizz Air Holdings Plc
József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air said: “I am delighted that Wizz Air is among the first ten companies to sign up for the COVID-19 Charter EASA and thus commit to adhere to the principles and responsibilities stated in the Charter. The wellbeing and safety of our passengers and crew have always been our top priority. The new era of sanitized travel has begun at Wizz Air with the recently announced range of enhanced hygiene measures to safeguard the health and safety of our customers and crew. Our state-of-the-art fleet as well as our enhanced protective measures ensure the best possible sanitary conditions for travellers. I am convinced that the experience gained and shared by airlines of this Charter will support the industry to fine tune and harmonize operations as well as the protective measures to support the return of passengers to flying.”

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The guidelines, developed by EASA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on the basis of scientific evidence and expert opinion, were published last week. The aim is to allow air travel to restart in safe conditions from both an operational and public health point of view. Member states and industry stakeholders provided extensive input through consultation. 

Recognising that airports, airlines and aircraft are different, the recommendations deliberately offer some flexibility in approach and explicitly task all relevant aviation organisations with determining how best to apply them in individual locations and situations, with the aim to maximise harmonisation for the resumption of aviation in Europe.

“The safe restoration of transport connectivity, and notably in aviation, is a crucial component in the economic recovery from the pandemic, which is why the European Commission tasked our two agencies with developing this protocol. Indeed, what is unique in the Operational Guidelines is the fact that they are validated both by aviation authorities as well as by health authorities. Only if they work together resumption of traffic will become possible.” said Henrik Hololei, Director-General for Mobility and Transport. “This monitoring programme is an important next step in rebuilding passenger confidence and returning commercial aircraft to the skies.” 

In practical terms, the programme will focus on flights operated by airlines which are ready to apply the guidelines between airports which equally apply them. This will create an end-to-end passenger journey that respects the guidelines from the moment of arriving in the departure airport to the time of exit from the destination terminal. Learnings from the monitoring programme can be applied by other airports and airlines so as to ensure a high level of effectiveness of the measures across the entire network.

The airlines and airports involved will each sign a project charter pledging that they will abide by the guidelines, coordinate with national authorities and design practical solutions when they encounter practical problems with the implementation of the guidelines. In doing so, the airports and airlines will monitor the overall effectiveness of the guidelines. To this effect, they also agree to report any issues they discover to EASA and ECDC, together with weekly observed data, and any opportunities for improvement.

“The airports and airlines participating in this programme will be pioneers at the forefront of the return to normal operations after this unprecedented crisis for commercial aviation,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky. “The feedback they provide to us will be instrumental in ensuring that we genuinely achieve the health safety aims of these guidelines and will help the entire sector to resume operations in a way that makes passengers and staff feel safe and secure.”

Primary recommendations of the guidelines are to observe physical distancing at all times and wherever possible, to wear a medical face mask throughout the journey to protect others, and to practise scrupulous and frequent hand hygiene throughout the journey. Reassurance is given that filtered air on airplanes is safer and cleaner than many of us breathe on the ground. 

Passengers themselves are expected to take personal responsibility. For example, passengers who have COVID-19 compatible symptoms (fever, cough, sudden loss of smell, shortness of breath) or who are aware that they have come in contact with a COVID-19 case should not arrive at the airport or should postpone their travel to protect their fellow passengers. 

For aircraft and airport operators, significant changes will be required to their processes to ensure that physical distancing is encouraged wherever possible, for example through floor markings. Signs and other communication should serve as a constant reminder of the new rules.

The guidelines take account of the specific conditions on an aircraft such as absence of face-to-face seating and the enhanced ventilation and air filtration characteristics and offer some flexibility due to the operational constraints and limited space. But they are clear that, wherever possible, passengers should be physically distanced, except in cases where they are travelling together. 

In addition to any adjustments as a result of the monitoring programme, the recommended measures will be regularly evaluated and updated in line with changes in knowledge of the risk of transmission as well as with development of other diagnostic or preventive measures (including technological) and the evolution of the pandemic.

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