Dipo Olowookere
The management of Turkish Airlines has expressed his commitment to the wellbeing of its passengers, crew members and the entire public by prioritising safety measures to minimise the effects and spread of COVID 19.
A statement issued by the airline operator said all surfaces passengers come in contact with, go through extensive cleaning processes by a dedicated special hygiene team.
It further said all its planes are disinfected with substances approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and aircraft manufacturers in line with the guidelines of both local and international civil aviation authorities.
Turkish Airlines further said at the point of passenger boarding, crew members monitor passengers while welcoming them on board and throughout the flight.
It said in the case of a passenger showing symptoms of the disease, the passenger in question undergoes a medical check with the directives of the host country’s health authority.
According to the statement, during flights, the cabin air is repetitively purified with hospital-grade High-efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. The filtration system constantly disinfects the air of any harmful substance in the air during flights. All passengers are also required to complete the passenger self-reporting form distributed by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Items such as forks, spoons, glasses and plates used during meals, are also disinfected asides the regular washing routine. All fabrics and devices used onboard, go through an extensive cleaning process and are replaced with fresh sets for each flight, it said.
Turkish Airlines said since the epidemic, it has increased the number of face masks, disposable gloves, sanitizers, and other disinfectants on its fleet of aircraft.
“We have taken extra measures since the beginning of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic to minimize both its effects and spreading. Our foremost priority being the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew members,” the statement on the airline’s website read.
The statement also revealed that the airline prioritises travel safety and is unwaveringly committed to working with local and international authorities to contain the spread of the virus.
“As the airline that always puts the travel security at the forefront, Turkish Airlines will continue to monitor the latest developments on the situation with the national and international health authorities and take appropriate precautions.
“As the World Health Organization declared the potential risk of the virus, we have been acting per the recommendations and instructions of the World Health Organization, IATA, and related national and international authorities since the first week of January 2020.”
In regards to flight schedules affected by the outbreak, the airline said it was determined to compensate customers.
“We would like to inform our passengers that due to the lowered load factors caused by the suspension of other routes, several of our flights to/from Nigeria will be undergoing cancellations in March.
“Passengers with tickets to the canceled flights will be able to refund or change their tickets free of charge until the end of May if they start the process until March/April depending on the route,” the management said.
