Aer Lingus & Ryanair announce their safety measures

If you’re anything like us, you’re seriously anticipating your next holiday getaway.

We’ve all spent so long staying home to stay safe but now it’s looking like travel is back on the horizon.

Throughout the pandemic, our expert travel advisors have continued seeking out holiday deals and keeping in touch by mail and social media so we know that our customers are eager to take to the skies again while also having understandable reservations about staying safe and healthy!

This is why airlines are putting measures in place to ensure passenger safety and help to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

From mandates on face coverings throughout your journey to hand-sanitising and deep cleaning, Aer Lingus and Ryanair have both released details and what they’re doing to keep holidaymakers safe. We’ve gathered together a few of the top trends here.

Aer Lingus

Changes to the boarding process

• Flyers will board in small groups according to seat number, to minimise queueing and interpersonal contact
• At the boarding gate, you will scan your own boarding pass and show your passport to a staff member making this process contactless
• Thermal screening is in place depending on local regulations

Enhanced cleaning processes

• Plane interiors are being deep cleansed with hospital grade disinfectant including seat coverings, floors and overhead lockers
• Hard surfaces are deep cleaned by hand including tray tables, arm rests and windows

Air filtration

Aer Lingus assures passengers that its air filtration system is state-of-the-art and will keep circulating air free of 99.7% of airborne particles. This is the same filtration system used hospital operating theatres, replacing cabin air every 3 minutes

Face coverings and in-flight service

• Face coverings are mandatory from your arrival at the airport and the duration of your flight. All cabin crew and passengers will be wearing facemasks unless they can present a medical certificate stating exemption
• Inflight services have been reduced with contactless payments for any purchases
• Movement around the aircraft is limited. There will be no queues for the toilets, with passengers having to request access from a flight attendant

Ryanair

At the airport

• For Ryanair, online check-in has been the standard for a long time and will continue to be so. To check in a bag, use the self-service kiosks and the baggage drop-off area
• Priority Customers will be boarded first. People will be boarded according to where they are sitting
• You will scan your own boarding pass and maintain social distance while presenting your open passport to staff

On board

• During the flight, all crew and passengers are required to wear face mask
• Aircraft are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by dedicated cleaning crews which is effective for over 24 hours
• Ryanair planes use the same hospital-grade filtration system as Aer Lingus
• Inflight services will be limited to reduce person-to-person contact and movement through the craft is limited – queueing for toilets is not permitted