Follow Us on Google News
ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced to install e-gates across the country’s major airports to facilitate travelers.
According to CAA, the e-gates will enable passengers to escape the hassle of waiting in long queues for their boarding passes. Travelers will only have their passports and tickets scanned at the e-gates before they are issued boarding passes, said CAA.
The CAA has announced that in the first phase of the operation, e-gates will be installed at airports in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. On the other hand, the government has ensured that foreigners who wish to apply for a Pakistani visa can do so online now.
E-gates are a self-automated service option that facilitates the passengers by scanning their passports before issuing them their boarding passes. E-gates are also equipped with the technology to conduct facial recognition and fingerprint check of passengers.
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had issued new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for domestic and international flight operations amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to a notification issued by Director Air transport of the CAA, the SOPs would remain effective from August 26 to December 31, 2020, and would also be applicable to the chartered flights operating from within the country.
As per SOPs, only passengers and airport staff will be permitted to go beyond the parking area and no protocol will be allowed. Protocols of any sort will remain suspended for the passengers and they could only be dropped before the departure lounge of the airport.
The plane would be disinfected before departure. The crew members would be bound to wear PPE kits, surgical flights and gloves during the flight.