As domestic airlines ready for phased resumption of flights, the minister of aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika has said that aides to very important persons or politicians would be restricted from entering airports.
Speaking in an interactive session with the senate committee on aviation yesterday, the minister said personalities including ministers, lawmaker coming to the airports “will not be carrying their aids into the airports any longer.”
He said the decision was part of measures put place to ensure that safety measures are adhered to during operations.
“Top among such measures is the restriction of aides of Very Important Personalities (VIPs) or politicians into the airport.
“Those who have no business traveling would not also be allowed to enter the airports as domestic flight operations resumes.
“They will not enter the airport, not at all, so any body coming into the airport, this time around as a personality, a minister or even our honourable members, distinguished senators will not be carrying their aids into the airports any longer.
“We will provide for all their security for the VIPs and the VIP gets in and travel. So the VIPs should help us and take responsibility, and ensure that they don’t add to our problems in this country,” he said.
He assured that the airports authorities are committed to ensuring the provision of necessary safety protocols of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
On airfare increase, the minister said although “price is not in my hand…I do not think that anything significant will happen to affect the propensity to fly.”
On the planned social distancing protocol on air fare since those with 300 capacities will be reduced to 150, he said before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the flights were not always full and that the ministry was working with the airlines to come up with the protocols before the reopening.
