Tampa International Airport launches robust ‘TPA Ready’ plan

Tampa International Airport (TPA) has launched a comprehensive, airport-wide effort – ‘TPA Ready’ – that mandates best practices for social distancing, mask usage, plastic shield barriers, surface disinfection and touchless transactions, designed to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 and other germs.

The airport will be strongly urging passengers and guests to modify behaviours and follow guidelines designed to keep themselves and others healthy and safe.

Some of the key changes being implemented include:

• Plastic shields: Plastic or acrylic shields will be installed in key high-traffic areas, including ticket counters, TSA security checkpoints, boarding gate and concessions counters
• Face masks: All employees will be required to wear face masks
• Social distancing markers: Thousands of ground markings and signs will give guidance on six-foot distancing ticket counters, boarding gates, shuttles, SkyConnect, concessions counters, U.S. Customs and other common areas
• Reduced seating: Seating will be reduced, blocked off or spaced apart in places like gate areas, dining areas, workstations and Main Terminal greeting sections to promote distancing
• Cleaning and sanitation: TPA is employing additional cleaning crew staff, using cutting-edge disinfection applications and products on surfaces, handrails and elevator buttons, and adding more hand sanitisers throughout the airport.

“While we know there’s an eagerness among our travellers and employees to resume our normal lives again, that new normal may look very different to pre-COVID 19,” TPA CEO, Joe Lopano, said. “Keeping people safe is always our top priority at TPA, and as people plan to come back, we want to ensure we are offering an environment that is clean, healthy and ready for business.”

In addition to these and other changes, TPA is urging its guests and passengers to follow CDC guidelines to stay healthy.

Tampa International Airport works closely with the Florida Department of Health and will continue to monitor CDC and other public health guidelines to follow the latest policies and practices in keeping its travellers, guests and employees safe.