The SATA Group airlines, SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines, have been constantly monitoring the evolution of the outbreak of the new Coronavirus disease, Covid-19, and have implemented all the recommendations issued by the Health Directorates (Regional and National), as well as by the competent entities, namely the national aeronautical entity, ANAC, IATA (International Air Transport Association), the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control.
In this context, when confronted with the confirmation that they have transported a passenger suspected of or infected with the Coronavirus, the procedures that have been established are triggered, in particular the identification of the area in which the passenger has traveled, to isolate the perimeter of contagion.
Following this identification, the list of passengers traveling next to the referenced passenger is forwarded to the competent health authority. As for the crew, the elements ensuring the flight are also identified to establish rapid contact with the health authority. On the ground, in collaboration with the airport authorities and the Health Directorate, the likely contact points are screened, to inform employees who may have been close to the infected passenger. These measures are always coordinated following the SATA Group's contingency plan, following its guidelines and the procedures previously defined by the Health Authorities.
In cases where the suspicion of an infected passenger is revealed on board, during the flight, the cabin crew members are duly instructed and prepared, and the operational procedure has been reinforced due to the new Coronavirus outbreak. All aircraft have been fitted with Prevention Kits, in addition to the First Aid Kits already on board. The necessary means to protect the remaining passengers and crew have been reinforced.
When a suspect case is detected on board, the Commander shall inform the destination airport so that the planned measures can be taken in conjunction with the airport authority and the health authorities at the respective airport of destination. In these cases, a more specific procedure for cleaning and disinfecting the aircraft is also established, with an incidence in areas of direct contact with the passenger, which is carried out preventively in the event of suspicion, under the instructions issued by the competent international bodies.
At the same time, airlines, in cooperation with health entities, have made available and updated information to their passengers through the usual means of communication, namely the carriers' website and onboard the aircraft, to raise awareness of the need to observe the simple rules of individual protection that must be adopted.