AAI moots pre-departure screening for domestic passengers

Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has suggested that domestic air passengers be put through pre-departure screening to prevent the spread of the A (H1N1) influenza.
The suggestion was mooted at a meeting attended by airport health officers, union government's health officials, immigration officials and AAI officials at the Chennai airport on the preventive steps taken at the airport.
"I suggested that pre-departure screening was ideal because it would prevent passengers from infecting others en route. Boarding passes should not be issued if a passenger is found to have symptoms of flu. This is more logical than testing and quarantining a passenger after he has flown," said airport director K Natarajan.
However, in case the suggestion is implemented across the country, departing passengers may have to report at airports earlier than usual.
"Screening of arriving passengers will cause chaos at the terminal. If three or four flights arrive at the same time, there will be a pile-up of passengers inside the domestic arrivals when all queue up for screening. So, pre-departure screening is the best way," Natarajan added.
Health officials had earlier hinted that the ministry might take up screening of domestic passengers at airports.
When the H1N1 influenza broke out in the US and the UK, Union home minister P Chidambaram suggested that infected countries should screen passengers before they flew to India. But, it was ignored.
14/08/09 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Aug 2009