FLINT, MI -- Flight reductions are continuing at Bishop Airport and passengers who are flying are getting temperature checks at the terminal door to be certain they aren’t running a fever.
Airport officials said in news releases that they will remain open as a “critical business exception” in light of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order that took effect Tuesday in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
In addition to checking the temperatures of all passengers and public entering the Bishop terminal, airport employees will also be checked with non-contact forehead thermometers when they arrive for work.
The only doorway that’s now open to the airport is at the center vestibule where the temperature check point has been set up.
Ericka Artis, a Flushing resident and a teacher, was among scattered travelers at Bishop Tuesday, preparing to fly to Memphis, Tennessee, to stay with her parents.
“I’m off school so I might as well be with them ... and make sure they are OK,” Artis said. “We want to make sure they are safe.”
Bishop Airport Director Nino Sapone said even while available flights are diminished, airports remain “vital to providing access to the national airspace system and (providing) significant economic and social value to our community.”
“As such, it is imperative that we remain as operationally capable as safety allows," Sapone said in a statement released by the airport. "Our staff and tenants are highly trained professionals who play a critical role ensuring the safety and security of the traveling public. Together we will remain resilient, flexible and adapt to the everyday challenges.”
Flights at Bishop and MBS Airport have been cut this month in response to COVID-19.
Last week, the airport said American Airlines will reduce daily flights from Flint to Chicago from three to two for three weeks in April, and Delta Airlines has removed 25 flights from its Flint flight schedule in April -- approximately one per day, which equates to 3,104 outbound seats.
Airlines have also been selectively removing flights daily, depending on how many people are on each aircraft, airport spokesman Pat Corfman said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal.
“There are no changes loaded to the flight system beyond April at this point, but as you can imagine, it is a very fluid process,” Corfman said.
On Tuesday, flights to and from Chicago and Flint on American and United airlines were both cancelled, according to Bishop’s website.
An MBS Airport official said last week that the airport will lose two of its three daily flights to Chicago on United Airlines starting in April.
MLive photographer Jake May contributed to this report.
Read more on MLive:
All Michigan residents, most businesses ordered to stay home to slow spread of coronavirus
Flights still running at Flint Bishop Airport but one airline cuts back next month
MBS Airport will lose two daily United Airlines flights to Chicago starting in April
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