Air France plans passenger temperature checks

Air France passengers’ temperatures will be checked and those exceeding 38C will be barred from boarding.

Passengers will also be required to wear facemasks on all flights from Monday.

Temperature checks using contactless infrared thermometers will  be progressively implemented, according to the carrier.

Those found to have a body temperature above 38C may be denied boarding and their booking will be changed at no extra charge on a flight at a later date.

The wearing of masks be made compulsory on all flights following a French directive on the wearing of masks on public transport.

The measures are in addition to those implemented by Air France and its partners in response to Covid-19.

According to the airline, these include:

• The compulsory wearing of masks for all crew members and agents in contact with customers,
• The modification of customer channels at the airport, with the application of physical distancing measures throughout the airport and the installation, where possible, of Plexiglas protection screens at airports,
• The implementation of physical distancing on board where possible. On almost all flights, the current low load factors make it possible to separate customers as required. In cases where this is not possible, requiring all passengers and crew to wear masks ensures adequate health protection.
• The reinforcement of daily aircraft cleaning procedures, with the disinfection of all surfaces in contact with customers such as armrests, tables and screens,
• The introduction of a specific procedure for disinfecting aircraft by spraying an approved virucidal product with an effective duration of ten days,
• Adapting in-flight service to limit interaction between customers and crew members. On domestic flights and short flights in Europe, meal and beverage services have been suspended. On long-haul flights, cabin service is limited and preference is given to individually wrapped products.

The airline added: “The air in the cabin is renewed every three minutes.

“The air recycling system on board Air France aircraft is equipped with ‘High Efficiency Particulate Air’ or HEPA filters, identical to those used in hospital operating theatres.

“These filters extract more than 99.99% of the smallest viruses, including those no larger than 0.01 micrometres, thus ensuring that cabin air complies with quality standards.

“Coronavirus-type viruses, ranging in size from 0.08 to 0.16 micrometres, are filtered through the HEPA filters.”