Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports become the first in the UK to implement such measures, which the group says are designed to combat the spread of coronavirus and demonstrate ways air travel can be made safe as passenger demand returns.
Passengers are being encouraged to bring their own gloves and face coverings, although in the early stages of the trial, the airport will be able to provide PPE for those unable to supply their own.
All customer-facing airport staff will also be required to wear gloves and face coverings from Thursday, while those working for airport partners will be encouraged to do the same. Airport staff will be on hand throughout passengers’ journey to guide them.
MAG said that the move sought to ensure the small number of passengers currently making essential journeys through its airports feel safer and more confident about flying, while providing a further level of protection to staff working at the airport.
"MAG also believes the new guidelines represent a first step towards demonstrating ways air travel can be safe when more passengers start travelling again," said the group "At present, with few flights and passengers at the airport, social distancing is practised and the new guidelines will not change that.
"However, in the future, face coverings and gloves may form an important part of operating a busier airport terminal safely. The pilot scheme will provide valuable feedback, and set a path towards a new minimum standard for safe international travel."
Over the coming weeks, MAG will be carrying out "limited" temperature screening trials, although results will not be communicated to passengers, and nor will they be used to decide whether a passenger can travel or not.
Additionally, MAG is considering asking all passengers to make a health declaration in order to enter its airports, and will give passengers sufficient notice of any such trials.
Charlie Cornish, MAG chief executive, said: “It’s clear social distancing will not work on any form of public transport. But we’re confident, when the time is right, people will be able to travel safely.
“MAG has been working with the rest of the airport industry on a new safety framework for travel. We now need to work urgently with government to agree how we operate in the future. This has to be a top priority so that people can be confident about flying, and to get tourism and travel going again.
“At MAG, we’ve taken expert medical advice on how people can travel safely, and we’re pleased to be piloting these new measures at our airports for those passengers who do still need to travel.
"We expect to be able to agree a new framework by the end of May that will support a restart of the industry as soon as possible.”
