Preparations are well underway at Guernsey Ports as the Bailiwick welcomes back returning students from the UK as part of the States of Guernsey’s ‘Operation Jingle Bells’ plan.
Additional flights from a variety of UK destinations and sailings have been scheduled through December with arriving passengers expected to peak on Friday 4 December 2020.
Head of Passenger Operations & Aviation Security – Ports Steve Langlois said: “We want the arrivals process to run as smoothly as possible for returning passengers to the Bailiwick by air and sea. A considerable amount of planning and preparation has gone into making the arrivals process at the harbour and airports as straightforward as possible.
“However, due to the latest, predicted passenger numbers, processing times may be slightly longer, and we would ask arriving passengers at the Ports for their patience and understanding at this time. Anyone due to travel to the Bailiwick by air or sea should register their journey in advance by using the States of Guernsey’s Travel Tracker service prior to travelling to the Bailiwick whenever possible”.
The forecourt area in the front of the Guernsey Airport terminal should not be used as a waiting area to collect passengers arriving into the Bailiwick. However, departing passengers can still use the drop off area.
Steve Langlois added: “Due to space limitations at the harbour and airport terminals once arriving passengers have been processed and, following advice from Public Health Services, we would ask those collecting passengers not to wait in the terminal buildings. Social distancing requirements for passenger processing is in place to protect frontline staff who work with arriving passengers.
“Anyone collecting passengers from Guernsey Airport should do so from the car parks. On Friday 4 December 2020 the main car park will be designated as a collection point for returning students. Passengers and students arriving into Guernsey and then transiting to Alderney should proceed directly to check-in, make their way through security and onwards to the departure lounge and wait for their connecting flight in the designated seating area.
“We will ensure we have additional staff available on our busiest days to help and advise families/friends who are collecting their loved ones.”
Advice for collecting passengers arriving home from university and college for Christmas holidays
Due to social distancing guidelines, and space constraints in the landside arrivals hall, Guernsey Ports is discouraging family/friends to greet students in the passenger terminal buildings at airports or the harbour.
Family/friends collecting passengers and students by car from Guernsey Airport should arrive in good time and will need to park in the main carpark, (parking will be free for the duration of collection). It is recommended that only one driver should collect passengers from the airports or harbours. Taxis can be booked in advance – guidance for transport to self-isolation can be found here.
Make sure you social distance your vehicle with at least one free car space distance. Stay in your vehicle, if you have a smart phone monitor arrivals on the airport or harbour arrivals and departure web pages. Use the phone to communicate with relatives’ friends or loved ones until they are in the vehicle.
Dependant on the number of passengers on the flight, where they are in the queue, luggage collection and test facility procedures, there will be some delay for passengers to come through. In some cases, this may take up to 90 minutes.
At Guernsey Airport, airport attendants will guide students and passengers to the main car park. Prior to students and passengers arriving at your vehicle, consider wearing a facemask. Please adhere to social distancing guidelines. Passengers and students must wear a mask until they reach their final destination their place of self-isolation.
Let students and other passengers place their own luggage in the vehicle. If help is required, please put on gloves and assist. However, remove gloves or sanitise your hands afterwards. Place any used gloves securely in a plastic bag and dispose of properly.
Unless you are self-isolating with any arrivals please do not hug or kiss. Once isolation has been completed, hug as much as you like!