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Zurich airport plans robot cleaners, mask dispensers as travel curbs ease
Travelers at Zurich's airport will encounter robot cleaners, facemask vending machines and extra room to queue for boarding when flight operations resume in earnest as coronavirus curbs ease.
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Protective masks are displayed above snacks and drinks at a 'Safety Station' vending machine of Swiss self-service retailer Selecta at the airport in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 28, 2020. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)
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ravelers at Zurich's airport will encounter robot cleaners, facemask vending machines and extra room to queue for boarding when flight operations resume in earnest as coronavirus curbs ease, officials said on Thursday.
Airlines such as Lufthansa units Swiss International and Edelweiss Air plan to ramp up service in the weeks ahead as borders start reopening next month.
They have been liaising with Flughafen Zuerich, ground services outfit Swissport and airport police on safety measures to comply with federal health authorities' guidelines, the airport operator said.
The steps include more frequent cleaning of handrails and baggage carts, hundreds of hand sanitizers, and Plexiglas panels at all desks. Vending machines run by Selecta will dispense facemasks and sanitizer.
Read also: Empty middle seat? Depends on which country you are flying in
To help avoid crowds forming, overflow levels at security checkpoints will open, passport control will operate as many booths as possible, and queuing areas will be made more spacious to help ensure physical distancing.
Swiss International urges passengers to cover their noses and mouths on board flights. In addition to stepping up cabin cleaning, it will give passengers disinfectant wipes and suspend inflight services such as hot towels and duty-free sales.
But it does not plan to leave middle seats open.
"Commercially no airline can afford to leave 40 percent of seats on board empty. In addition, leaving the middle seat empty does not guarantee social distancing under the current rules," Swiss Chief Operating Officer Thomas Frick told broadcaster SRF.
