Ryanair will resume 40% of scheduled flights as of July 1, subject to lifting the travel restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic and applying public health measures at airports.
In a statement, the low-cost airline recalls that since the beginning of the flight restrictions in mid-March, it has been operating a daily schedule of 30 flights between Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe and that from July will resume flights at most of its 80 bases across Europe.
"Ryanair works to re-establish some frequencies on as many routes as possible, instead of operating many frequencies on a small number of routes", underlines the company.
In preparation for their return, the company launched a video that aims to encourage passengers to take sanitary measures to limit the spread of covid-19, which include trips with less hold luggage, online check-in, presentation of the boarding pass on the mobile phone, temperature control at the airport entrance and use of face masks at the terminal and on board the aircraft.
In the note, Ryanair also recalls that all of its aircraft are equipped with HEPA air filters (similar to those used in hospitals) and that all interior surfaces of the planes are disinfected every night with effective chemicals for more than 24 hours.
In addition to temperature controls and the use of face masks / coverings, social distance at airports and on board planes will be encouraged whenever possible, he adds. On board the planes, the cabin crew will use face masks / covers and a limited service of prepackaged light meals and drinks will be available, but cash payments will not be accepted on board.
Waiting lines for toilets on board will be prohibited and access will be made upon prior request.
The company also encourages passengers to regularly wash and use hand sanitizers at airport terminals.
As a temporary measure of public health and until the European Union states lift their respective blocks, Ryanair will require all passengers traveling in July and August to fill in the data (at check-in) about the duration of their visit and address accommodation during a visit to another EU country.
"This contact information will be provided to EU governments to help control any isolation measures imposed on visitors on intra-Community flights," explains the company.
Cited in the statement, Ryanair's executive director, Eddie Wilson, says: "It is important for our customers and our citizens that we resume part of the schedule from 1 July."
The official says that, after the four-month blockade applied by governments across Europe, "it is time to fly back to Europe" so that we can "find friends and family, allow people to return to work and relaunch the tourism industry. European Union, which occupies so many millions of workers ".
"Ryanair will work closely with Health authorities to ensure that these flights respect, wherever possible, effective measures to limit the spread of covid-19. As has already been demonstrated in Asia, temperature controls and masks are the most effective measure on short distances (1 hour) within the European market ", he adds.
Eddie Wilson also says that Ryanair believes that July 1 "is the most opportune date to resume a normal flight schedule, allowing friends and families to get together, workers to return to work and the savings that depend so much on tourism, like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, France and others, recover what remains of the tourist season ".
