Aarogya Setu app mandatory for air travel, entry at airport only if there is ‘green’ status

Aarogya Setu App has now become mandatory for air travel also. Yes, train travel was first started during the lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and now domestic flights have also been started. But, before starting air travel, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). According to which it will be mandatory for passengers traveling by air to install ‘Arogya Setu App’ in their smartphones. Let us tell you, domestic flights are starting again from May 25, which was announced by the Civil Aviation Ministry. Apart from the app, masks, gloves and thermal screening of passengers will also be mandatory before air travel.

According to AAI documents, it will be mandatory for all passengers to register in the ‘Aarogya Setu’ app on their smartphones, which will be verified by CISF/Airport staff at the entry gate.

The AAI note also states that this requirement will not apply to children below 14 years of age who wish to travel by air. Apart from this, passengers whose ‘green’ does not appear in the Arogya Setu app will also not be allowed to enter the airport. It is noteworthy that earlier it was made mandatory for passengers traveling by train to install and register the Arogya Setu app.

Passengers have been asked to reach the airport two hours before their flight departure schedule. Entry will be allowed only for those whose flight is within the next 4 hours.

Thermal screen of the passenger will be done before entry. Social distancing will be strictly followed at screen zones, entry gates and airport terminals etc.

However, the information is not clear whether passengers who do not have smartphones or Jio phones are being allowed to travel by air or not. Let us tell you, Arogya Setu app is available for Android, iOS and KaiOS based Jio phone models. However, there is no version for feature phone users.