NAIROBI, Kenya June 3 – Regional carrier Jambojet says it has introduced a raft of measures including the adoption of a high-efficiency air filtration system that will boost the safety of passengers amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Through a statement, acting CEO, Karanja Ndegwa said the airplanes have been fitted with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration system that refreshes the air every 3 minutes.
Ndegwa said the measures taken will also include thorough sanitization of airplanes with industry approved detergents, before and after each flight with a special focus on all touch prone areas.
Ndegwa said that upon resumption of flights, the airline will focus on ensuring employees are protected from the spread of the novel virus which has killed nearly 340,00 people out of the 2.6 million people infected globally.
“Once we resume operations, we will ensure that we continue to follow the set guidelines by the Ministry of Health, WHO, IATA, and other relevant bodies,” said Ndegwa.
He added that the carrier remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of employees and customers.
“All passengers and crew will be required to wear facemask throughout the journey and observe social distancing on all queues and at the lounge. The Cabin Crew will assist passengers with opening and closing of the overhead bins to reduce touch.
Passengers have been advised to conduct online bookings to reduce contact through queues at the airport.
“We have also updated our boarding procedures, where passengers will be boarded by zone starting with those seating at the rear of the cabin,” he said.
The announcement comes ahead of the much-anticipated address by President Uhuru Kenyatta where he is expected to give a way forward on matters travel restrictions.
Kenyatta is expected to issue an address on 6th June following the end of the cessation of movement and dusk to dawn curfews among other restrictions.
The President banned all international passenger flights effective March 25 with the exception of cargo flights whose crew was limited to three people.
As of June 3, Kenya had recorded 499 recoveries and 17 deaths out of the 2,093 infections recorded after an analysis of 82,946 samples.
Jambojet, among other regional airlines halted operations on 7th April 2020 when the directive on cessation of movement by road, rail or air in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties took effect.
Meanwhile, an impact assessment analysis by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has predicted that the airline industry in Africa will suffer a revenue loss of US$8.103 billion – Sh860 billion – in 2020,
