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Edinburgh Live

National

Sophie Buchan

Edinburgh Airport mask rules and covid advice for flights with British Airways

British Airways Edinburgh Airport Edinburgh easyJet

Holidaymakers will now be packing their bags with many families set to jet away for the Easter holidays.

But many people are naturally concerned about their flight status with the news of cancelled flights and airport delays across the country.

It comes as two of the UK's largest airlines - easyJet and BA - have been at the centre of the problem with the airline operators cancelling hundreds of flights just days - and in some cases hours - before planes were due to take off.

We previously reported how an Edinburgh couple were booked onto an 'impossible' connecting flight after being caught up in the British Airways cancellations.

John Eggo and his partner had been due to travel to Seville however one evening John received an urgent email to inform him the Edinburgh leg of the journey had been scrapped, with the system rebooking them onto a new flight from Glasgow.

As a result of the change, they would now have just 30 minutes to make their connecting flight.

Thankfully John managed to make it but others have not been so lucky with passengers having to cancel holidays or being stranded in another country.

But now in a bid to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible, the airport have released the rules that are currently in place to remind passengers what they should expect.

So what are the rules in place currently when you're travelling to Edinburgh Airport?

Do I need to wear a face mask in Edinburgh Airport?

The Edinburgh Airport website states that staff and passengers will need to wear a face mask unless exempt.

The ask passengers not to be alarmed if you see staff wearing PPE as they're "trying to protect everyone as much as possible."

They add that at present the "Scottish Government requires everyone, unless you have a valid exemption, to wear face coverings within the airport, so please make sure you have one with you. If you don't then you can purchase masks from our PPE vending machines."

What covid precautions are Edinburgh Airport taking?

The airport website states that they have installed banks of sanitising stations both inside and outside the airport to keep up with hand hygiene.

There are also sanitiser stations outside of the multi-storey car park with three dispensers on each.

Before entering, passengers should use these before entering the building.

Sanitiser stations will also be installed directly outside the Security Hall and at the back of the Security Hall so people can clean their hands before heading into the Departure Lounge. Once in the Departure Lounge, there are sanitiser stations located in the centre and there are also stations in the Arrivals Hall.

They are asking passengers stay at home if they do not feel well and do not show up to the airport.

They also add that passengers who are not flying together should maintain social distancing from others and staff where possible.

You should also follow the red line for the exit and blue line for entering the airport and heading to areas such as security, bag drop and departures and to keep to their one way system.

People need to follow the one way markers. (Edinburgh Airport.)

Where are Edinburgh Airport's covid testing facilities?

Although travel requirements are easing, some people may still be requires to test before they fly.

Because of this the airport will offer both PCR and LFT kits.

ExpressTest

ExpressTest UK is now located at the car park next to the Forth Building and will aim to deliver PCR test results by 10pm the day after the test.

There are three options for this with on-site test results coming back within just 40 minutes

This includes:

Test centre: £35
Home testing kit: £15
Click and collect: £12

You can read more about covid testing at here.

British Airways covid mask policy

Both easyJet and BA are having difficulties with their flight schedule at the moment but what are the face mask rules when, for example, you're flying with BA?

Taking to their website BA states that passengers in England no longer need to wear a mask at some airports however, as an international airline flying all around the world, they are said to be obliged to "ensure our customers continue to comply with local restrictions and meet the requirements of the destination they arrive at."

As a result, they are asking passengers to check the requirements of the destination you’re flying to before departing for the airport.

They state it means that:

If you are travelling on our flights, you will be required to wear a mask on board if the destination you are flying to or from requires you to
If you are travelling on our flights, you will be required to wear a mask to disembark the aircraft, and at your arrival airport, if the destination you are flying to requires it

They add: "Where we are unsure or have not been able to clarify the local restrictions, we will still require you to wear face coverings, and we ask that you continue to carry masks with you for the duration of your journey. For destinations where we have established that the wearing of a face covering is not mandated, you are able to make a personal choice and we kindly request everyone respects each other’s preferences."

You will need to wear a mask on board if you are travelling to or from the following destinations: