FlySafair’s ‘COVID-19 fee’, a R20 fee (including VAT), has been added to its fares to fund additional safety measures put in place.
The R20 covers the following, according to the website:
- Temperature screening of passengers and crew on board the flight, and a sanitised mask for each passenger which must be worn during flight;
- Deep cleaning each evening. Surfaces, especially common-touch areas, are cleaned with a product called Sani-Cide EX3 which is highly effective against bacteria and viruses;
- An additional treatment called Chemserve Aerosan is then applied with Electrostatic sprayers to ensure that every surface is coated. This agent has an extended ‘dwell time’ or life, keeping surfaces sanitised for extended periods;
- Between flights, common-touch areas are again cleaned with Sani-Cide EX3, and then the cabins are treated using aerosol foggers containing a product called Iama Global Sanitiser, which is safe for people, but not for viruses;
- Hand sanitiser is provided at boarding to keep hands clean and can be requested during the flight too.
Kirby Gordon, head of sales and distribution at FlySafair, told Travel News that the fee wasn’t standard across all airlines, but something FlySafair had implemented to cover the additional costs involved. He also noted that, as people were now arriving with their own masks, the airline was not handing out new masks to each passenger, but did have masks on hand.
