Low-cost airline Wizz Air has become the first to resume flights to overseas destinations - but with strict new rules in place.
Passengers will need to wear a face mask in order to travel on services from Luton Airport that started today (May 1) to several destinations including Romania, Hungary, Portugal, and Spain.
Current UK government advice is for Britons to avoid all non-essential global travel indefinitely.
Customers are being asked to check-in for all flights online, and make any additional in-flight purchases such as seat upgrades or additional bags, online prior to their journey, Mirror Online reports.
The airline will also remove all onboard magazines from the cabin and will now feature a brand new safety video which will outline the new hygiene measures onboard, reports BristolLive.
The new protocols will support social distancing during boarding as well as throughout the flight.
Purchases onboard are “encouraged” to be made using contactless payment, to minimise the need for physical contact.
Airline bosses add that a stringent daily cleaning schedule will remain in place, with the entire aircraft being disinfected overnight.
Wizz Air UK managing director Owain Jones said: “ As we restart selected Luton flights to provide an essential service to passengers who need to travel, our primary concern is the health, safety and well-being of our customers and crew.
“The protective measures that we are implementing will ensure the most sanitary conditions possible.
"We encourage our customers to watch our new video on how to stay safe when travelling, as well as for more details on our new health and safety measures.”
Speaking earlier this week, Wizz Air chief executive Josef Varadi said: “The industry will have to address physical distancing. In the first few months planes will not be filled.”
He said: “I think we’ll start seeing some easing during the course of May or into June, I don’t know. What we do know is it is becoming unsustainable.
"Maybe at the end of May or sometime in June we’ll be at 30 per cent.”
