With the world opening back up a little now, Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) has started to see its passenger numbers going back up.
That’s a good thing as far as paying the bills and keeping the lights on at the airport, but that increase in passenger traffic has also led PTIA to adopt new measures to protect against the spread of coronavirus.
On Wednesday, June 3, the airport announced the guidelines – an extension of a previously implemented “PTI Prepared” program – and airport officials emphasized that they’re encouraging passengers to come to the airport prepared since the crowds there will be larger.
For one thing, the airport is now encouraging passengers to wear face coverings in the terminal building. The press release states that passengers should bring those face coverings with them to the airport.
Airport officials are also asking non-passengers to wait in their cars rather than enter the terminal building when they drop off or pick up flyers. For the time being, the airport is providing free parking at the metered spaces near the terminal entrances to allow those dropping off or picking up passengers to stay in their cars for up to an hour at no cost.
Passengers should also arrive early to help prevent crowding at security and gate areas.
In addition, they should plan to use mobile boarding passes to reduce the need to touch surfaces. PTIA has set up hand sanitizer stations at many locations in the terminal. However, the press release states that passengers may also want to bring a small container of hand sanitizer with them for their use as well.
PTIA officials are also reminding everyone to keep their distance from others in all areas of the airport.
Practicing social distancing wasn’t so much of a problem in April when the airport use hit a low point with less than a hundred passengers using the facility in a whole day. On that day in mid-April, the airport had more employees working than passengers flying in and out.
The number of passengers is still relatively low, but that number is now growing steadily.
PTIA Executive Director Kevin Baker said this increase means flyers have to be more cautious.
“As the passenger numbers begin to increase, we want those traveling by air to understand preparations that have been made at the airport, as well as what is asked of them while the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to public health,” Baker stated in the June 3 press release.
