IN PICTURES: Belfast International Airport ready for flying start on Monday

At 7.05am on Monday an Easyjet plane will depart from Belfast International Airport for Liverpool marking the first passenger flight from the airport since lockdown measures on travel were imposed.
By Graeme Cousins
Published 11th Jun 2020, 17:31 BST
PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Planes have remained grounded for weeks at Belfast International Airport because of the Coronavirus restrictions. The airport will re-open on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISONPACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Planes have remained grounded for weeks at Belfast International Airport because of the Coronavirus restrictions. The airport will re-open on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON
PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Planes have remained grounded for weeks at Belfast International Airport because of the Coronavirus restrictions. The airport will re-open on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

Today the airport opened its doors to the media to show the methods in place to ensure passenger and staff safety as the airport takes its first step on the journey towards normal service.

It was explained by airport managing director Graham Keddie that a one-way system will be in operation and initially only one security lane would be open.

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Despite the limited number of passengers using the airport Graham still advised people to arrive two hours before boarding time.

PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: A member of staff at Belfast International Airport places signs to inform pasengers of the social distancing measures that have been put in place at the airport as part of the Coronavirus restrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISONPACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: A member of staff at Belfast International Airport places signs to inform pasengers of the social distancing measures that have been put in place at the airport as part of the Coronavirus restrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON
PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: A member of staff at Belfast International Airport places signs to inform pasengers of the social distancing measures that have been put in place at the airport as part of the Coronavirus restrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

A key requirement is that all passengers wear face coverings once they enter the terminal.

Hand sanitizer and hand washing facilities will be available at various points throughout the airport and to begin with no retail outlets, cafes or restaurants will be open.

Graham said: “We have a number of new measures in place so passengers are able to travel.

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“I know these may seem inconvenient initially, however, our priority is the safety and wellbeing of all who pass through the airport.

PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Graham Keddie, Managing Director of Belfast International Airport, points out the social distancing measures that have been put in place at the airport as part of the Coronavirus retsrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISONPACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Graham Keddie, Managing Director of Belfast International Airport, points out the social distancing measures that have been put in place at the airport as part of the Coronavirus retsrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON
PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Graham Keddie, Managing Director of Belfast International Airport, points out the social distancing measures that have been put in place at the airport as part of the Coronavirus retsrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

“We would ask for the cooperation, patience and support of all passengers at this time. These rules are for everyone’s safety as we begin the journey towards an increase in passenger numbers and flights over the coming months.”

Regarding the face coverings rule he said: “Until people get used to this we’ll endeavour to provide people with a face covers. But eventually, as this goes on, people will be expected to bring their own mask.”

Asked if social distancing would apply on the aircrafts themselves, he said: “There won’t be social distancing on the planes. The filtration systems are incredible.”

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Discussing the need to get the airport back to some sort of normality he said: “We need to get the economy back up and running, the airport has taken a huge hit. We’ve had a lot of people furloughed who we will be bringing back week by week.

PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Signs and social distancing measures have been put in place at Belfast International airport as part of the Coronavirus retsrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISONPACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Signs and social distancing measures have been put in place at Belfast International airport as part of the Coronavirus retsrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON
PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 11/6/2020: Signs and social distancing measures have been put in place at Belfast International airport as part of the Coronavirus retsrictions ahead of the re-opening on Monday morning. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON

“The shops are closed and it will be a big boost when we get those back. The businesses within any airport are key to the airport’s sustainability.”

To give an idea of how scaled back the operation would be initially Graham said: “On Monday we’ll have seven Easyjet flights. On a normal Monday we would have had more than 70 departures.”

The first international flights will be to and from Faro next week. Graham hoped that the government would soon get air bridges (bilateral travel agreements) in place to prevent people having to go into quarantine upon arrival.

Related topics:EasyJetLiverpoolFaro