Turkish airports are preparing to adopt a slew of new operational procedures against COVID-19, including on-site rapid coronavirus tests and social distancing, in an aim to stem the risk of a second wave of infections.
Ankara has recently launched its normalization process by reopening some businesses amid improving coronavirus numbers.
The country is planning to resume domestic and international flights gradually in June after a weeks-long suspension due to the pandemic.
After the travel bans are lifted, Turkish airports will adopt new measures in air travel to ensure the safety of passengers.
Hüseyin Keskin, head of the State Airports Authority Directorate (DHMI), said on Twitter that physical conditions in airports will be revamped according to social distancing rules.
Lines for check-in and seating areas will be arranged to facilitate distancing, he said.
"To reduce the crowd and contact, necessary arrangements will be made in the luggage areas, and sufficient distance will be adhered to between the luggage tapes," he added.
Keskin said the scope of the measures will be expanded in all processes, from entering airports to departure.
The aviation sector is also planning to use rapid test kits to ascertain whether a passenger has been exposed to the virus, according to reports.
As of Monday, Turkey registered a total of 3,841 deaths due to the coronavirus whereas 95,780 people have recovered from the disease. Currently, there are 139,771 confirmed cases in the country.
After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.
