As places within our city begin to open up with increased health and safety protocols, so is Raleigh-Durham International Airport. In April, RDU saw a 96% decrease in passenger volume, compared with the same time period last year — only 40,000 passengers flew through the airport during the month of April this year. Our recent poll sharing results on how people in Raleigh feel about getting back to normal post-quarantine stated that 62% of 895 respondents don’t feel comfortable travelling internationally until next year, correlating with the airport’s numbers.
RDU announced new measures to protect passengers and airport staff in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What changes will you see in the terminals?
○ More frequent cleaning and disinfecting of ParkRDU shuttle buses and common areas, including bathrooms and high-touch surfaces such as ticket counters and kiosks
○ More detailed cleaning and disinfecting using EPA-approved products for surfaces such as handrails and underneath seats
○ Hand sanitizing stations throughout the terminals
○ Digital signage and intercom announcements promoting adherence to public health best practices to help prevent the spread of viruses like COVID-19
○ New physical and digital signage reminding passengers to maintain six feet of distance, wear a face covering, and practice good hygiene
○ New stanchion signage in the ticket lobby, boarding queues, and on the concourse to encourage physical distancing and one-way directional flow
○ Sneeze guards in common areas including ticket counters, information desks, gate counters, and baggage service offices
○ Seat covers in gate waiting areas and floor decals in baggage claim that show appropriate physical distancing
What about the airlines?
○ Some of RDU’s airline partners now require passengers to wear face coverings during their flight. Masks will be available for sale in post-security stores in Terminal 2.
○ Passengers currently do not have to complete a health screening or have their temperature checked when flying through RDU, unless the airline you fly requires it. Note: Frontier will implement temperature screenings for all passengers and airline employees prior to boarding flights. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will be denied boarding.