INDEX
- Q.Are anti-droplet measures being taken at each counter?
- Q. I am worried about having to talk to staff from check-in to boarding.
- Q. What are the infection prevention measures in places where many people touch, such as counters and strollers?
- Q.Is there disinfectant available at the airport?
- Q. There are often long lines at baggage inspections. Can you tell me about the social distancing measures in place at check-in?
- Q. There will be a queue at the boarding gate, but is social distancing being maintained?
- Q.Please tell me about the infection prevention measures in the lounge.
- We will continue to take measures flexibly and quickly.
If you are traveling on a domestic flight, you will check in and drop off your baggage after arriving at the airport. Pass through security and head to the boarding gate 30 minutes before departure. If you also use the lounge, you may end up spending more time at the airport than on the plane. As the effects of the coronavirus continue, JAL wants to provide you with peace of mind and safety during your time at the airport. Kenichi Hanamasu of JAL Sky, who is formulating various measures for domestic flights at Haneda Airport, will answer your questions and concerns.
Q. Are any precautions in place to prevent droplets from spreading at each counter?
A.All counters are equipped with special partitions made for JAL mechanics.
"We have installed acrylic partitions handmade by our maintenance staff at all counters. Initially, the ground staff made the partitions out of vinyl, but it was difficult to apply them neatly and they didn't look very good, so our maintenance staff used their skills to make new ones. We prioritize installing them in areas where staff will be in contact with customers for long periods of time, and we are currently considering installing partitions at boarding gates."
Q. I am worried about having to talk to staff from check-in to boarding.
A. In addition to self-service check-in machines, we have taken various other measures.
"All JAL counters at domestic airports, including Haneda Airport, are equipped with self-service check-in machines, and from February we introduced self-service baggage drop machines at Haneda Airport. This allows customers to complete the boarding procedures without having to come into contact with ground staff. All staff also wear masks, and when necessary, face shields and gloves when providing service."
"In addition, we are currently experimenting with the introduction of an avatar robot called 'JET' to guide customers. This robot is remotely controlled by staff and communicates with them via voice, allowing customers to receive guidance without having to meet staff face-to-face."
Q. What are the infection prevention measures in places where many people touch, such as counters and strollers?
A. Ground staff regularly wipe down the aircraft using two different disinfectants.
"Check-in counters, self-service baggage drop machines, wheelchairs and baby strollers that customers touch are wiped down with disinfectant multiple times throughout the day."
"We also use two different types of disinfectant depending on the customer who will be using it. For baby strollers and other items that children may come into contact with, we use a disinfectant that is safe to accidentally ingest."
Q.Is disinfectant available at the airport?
A. They are installed in all locations where customers can carry out procedures.
"At the counters, there are one or two bottles per area of the self-service check-in machines, one at each area of the self-service baggage drop machines, and one at each boarding gate. They are also installed at key locations from the security checkpoint to the boarding gate. Disinfectant is also available in each restroom and in areas under the jurisdiction of the airport building, and is available for free use."
Q. There are often long lines at baggage inspections. Can you tell me about the social distancing measures in place at check-in?
A. We have set up footprints so that there is a gap of at least 1m between each unit.
"From around April 10th, we have been gradually taking measures such as attaching tape and footprints to the floor so that people can know where to line up. The distance varies in each area, but we are trying to ensure that there is a minimum of one meter between people. Thanks to you, everyone has been very cooperative and is keeping a good distance between them. However, as the number of customers increases in the future, we expect other issues to arise, so we will continue to consider other measures."
"We also use thermography equipment to measure body temperature at security checkpoints." *Excluding some airports. If you have a fever, you may be denied boarding.
Q.There may be queues at the boarding gate. Is social distancing being maintained?
A. We have set up footprints and limit the number of people we can accommodate at one time.
"At the boarding gate, we have placed tape and footprints on the floor to mark where to line up so that customers can maintain distance from each other. In addition, ground staff are making announcements such as 'Please line up with sufficient distance between you,' and we are limiting the number of customers we can accommodate at one time to 10 to 20 people."
Q.Please tell me about the infection prevention measures in the lounge.
A. In addition to social distancing measures, there are some restrictions on food and drink.
"The lounge will be open as usual, but we have set up a footprint at the reception desk and signs on the seats asking customers to sit with one seat between them to ensure social distancing."
"We will also be limiting food and drink availability, focusing on items that are individually packaged."
"In addition, we always wear gloves when touching food and drink packaging, and always change into different gloves when cleaning up. Service staff are also able to wear face shields in addition to masks."
We will continue to take measures flexibly and quickly.
We are currently taking various measures as mentioned above, but we do not believe that these will be sufficient going forward. What is important is to quickly implement measures appropriate to the situation for the safety and security of our customers.
"Each customer has a different understanding of the new coronavirus. In this context, we believe it is important to consider how we can respond to customer needs. As of June, customer use is low, but if the number of customers increases in the future, new issues will likely arise. We would like to assess this and come up with countermeasures as quickly as possible."
We look forward to the day when many people can travel by plane again with peace of mind.
"Most airport staff joined the company because they enjoy interacting with customers, and find their work rewarding. So everyone is feeling lonely during this situation, and we hope that we can return to normal life as soon as possible, where we can take off our masks and greet customers with smiles on our faces."
The time you spend at the airport is an important part of your flight. In other words, it is time for which JAL is responsible to its customers. We believe that providing safety and security until the day comes when you can fly with peace of mind is part of JAL's service.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
