New statewide standards announced for Washington airports

On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced that Washington is setting new requirements for commercial airports and recommendations for airlines.

“The steps we’re taking will help protect those who need to fly,” Inslee said. “This guidance isn’t just about SeaTac—these requirements apply to airports across the state—Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Everett too”.

In addition to the new state requirements, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, and the Port of Seattle announced additional steps to protect airline passengers and staff’s health and safety.

The new Commercial Service Airport Requirements are a statewide approach to the COVID pandemic to ensure the health and safety of employees, passengers, and crewmembers working and traveling to and from the state’s aviation sector.

The guidance will require face coverings in the airport, signage, spacing for physical distancing; protective barriers between travelers and workers, sanitizer and disinfectant protocols; and airport vendors and businesses following state and county health agency requirements.

It also strongly encourages airlines to establish health-screening questionnaires for passengers regarding potential COVID-19 exposure or symptoms and require passengers to adhere to face covering and physical distancing requirements to be issued a boarding pass.