Airlines gear up to combat flu scare

MUMBAI: With the flu scare gripping the country, airlines, airports and the travel industry in general, have stepped up measures to combat the H1N1 virus. Mumbai International Airport is conducting massive ���thermal camera screening��� of incoming passengers. The airport has also distributed surgical face masks to employees at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Two air cleansing machines have been set up to purify arrival area at regular intervals, said an airport executive.

���We have procured a thermal camera and government doctors are conducting the screening process,��� the Mumbai International Airport spokesperson told ET. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the first airport in India to have a thermal camera for screening of swine flu.

At the domestic terminal, facemasks have been distributed and there are plans to make travel packs available to passengers and employees. These packs will contain facemasks, sanitary wipes and Receptol tablets.

Kingfisher, the largest private airline, is closely monitoring the situation and is in regular touch with the airport health authorities and other national and international stakeholders. Factual information on H1N1 influenza was disseminated to employees of Kingfisher Airlines. An advisory was circulated to all cabin crew and flight deck crew listing out the specific precautions.

���Surgical face masks are provided on all international flights to and from countries listed by WHO and crew have been advised to distribute masks on request or to those exhibiting flu symptoms,��� a Kingfisher spokesperson said. On all inbound international fights of Kingfisher Airlines, the health declaration forms as advised by the health authorities are being distributed to guests on board.

All employees of GoAir suffering from cold, cough or fever have been asked to abstain from work till completely cured. At airports, GoAir has requested authorities to provide face masks for use of airport staff who come into direct contact with customers.
Low cost carrier SpiceJet has said that internal messaging is being done to create awareness on strict hygiene measures and posters with key messages have been put up in high visibility areas. In addition to this, SpiceJet ground staffs in Pune have been given special masks to ensure employees and guests��� safety. ���We have been sharing regular updates on H1N1 virus with employees to generate awareness. Washrooms in our offices are being equipped with special disinfecting liquid,��� a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

Ashwini Kakkar, executive VC of Mercury Travels told ET: ���It���s a dreadful epidemic. We cannot run away to cities to avoid swine flu. It���s level 6 epidemic according to the WHO and will spread across the world.���