Spain Removes Access Restrictions To Airport Terminals From October 15
Spain News
Published: 13 October 2021 14:30 CET
From Friday, October 15, friends and family will once again be able to greet or see off their loved ones from inside the terminals and Spanish airports.
Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez, confirmed that all "restrictions on access to terminals" will be lifted.
The confirmation came a day after it was published in the BOE on Thursday. In particular "the access of companions to the airport terminals will be allowed, although their entry may be limited in times of great influx to avoid crowds”, a note from the Ministry specified.
The announcement will bring joy to many, as the restrictions were first introduced on July 7, 2020, and meant that only passengers with a boarding pass, airport staff and security forces were able to go inside the 46 airports that are managed by AENA in Spain.
It was then established that entry into the country would only be allowed for passengers who were stopping off, but would be getting another flight within a period not exceeding six hours after their arrival at the airport. This was in addition to employees at the airport or in the companies that provide services and personnel from Security Forces and Corps.
As an exception, minors and people with reduced mobility were allowed to be accompanied.
According to Government spokesperson Isabel Rodríguez, the decision to lift the restrictions was made in light of the vaccination coverage and the fact that Spain last week entered into the ‘low risk’ category, with infections now below 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 days.
Rodríguez stated that it has been agreed "to abolish the access limits to the airports. From now on, family and friends will be able to accompany us, but should, however, keep health requirements such as the use of a mask.
"It is an important measure to return to normality,” she stressed.
The same sentiment came from the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, and was reiterated by Rodríguez, who recalled the effectiveness of masks “as a non-pharmacological measure against the coronavirus, before that the Covid vaccine existed.”
“Despite the euphoria and joy" before the "good health data". Rodríguez pointed out that it is still necessary to "maintain some measures that have been positive for the control of the pandemic", referring to the mask, whose use will "be maintained over time."
This move, together with the obligation of keeping a secure distance of 1.5 metres, are from Friday, the only two main Covid-19 restrictions that will remain at Spanish airports.
The new measure has also been approved as a means of supporting and generating more business for retailers that are inside the airport terminals, who have been hit hard by the ban.
Source
https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4851620/0/gobierno-elimina-restriccion-aeropuertos-permitira-acceso-acompanantes-viajeros/
https://www.thelocal.es/20211013/spain-lifts-covid-restrictions-on-access-to-airport-terminals/
https://spanishnewstoday.com/spain_removes_all_restrictions_at_airports_1663186-a.html
