Airports' Strategies For Survival During The Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the aviation industry, with airports and airlines implementing various measures to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. Airports have introduced advanced disinfecting processes, frequent touchpoint sanitization, and extensive safety procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Airlines have also adapted their policies, with some blocking seats to promote social distancing, while others are filling planes to capacity to recover financial losses. Additionally, mask requirements, service cuts, and health passports are now common practices for airlines and airports worldwide. Despite the challenges, the aviation industry is gradually resuming pre-pandemic operations, with some airlines restoring their long-haul flights and pre-COVID schedules.

Enhanced cleaning and sanitisation

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new level of attention to cleanliness in the aviation industry, with airports and airlines implementing enhanced cleaning and sanitisation measures to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. Here are some of the measures being taken:

Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection

Many airports and airlines have implemented advanced disinfecting processes and frequent touchpoint sanitising. For example, Salt Lake City International Airport transitioned to Flagship Aviation Services, which provides advanced disinfecting services and extensive safety procedures, increasing passenger confidence and achieving a new standard of airport cleanliness.

Contactless Check-In and Boarding

Airlines are trying to reduce the number of things passengers need to touch by offering contactless check-in and boarding processes. For instance, British Airways offers touchless check-in, and Air Canada provides a touch-free experience starting at bag drop, including virtual queuing.

Hand Hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment

Hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Airports and airlines encourage passengers and staff to carry hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol content and to use it after touching common surfaces. Additionally, most airlines require passengers and crew to wear masks while in the airport and on the aircraft, with some recommending masks to be changed every four hours. Gloves are also recommended by some sources for passengers passing through the airport.

Cleaning of Aircraft

Airlines are committed to ensuring the cleanliness of their aircraft. For example, British Airways disinfects key surfaces after every flight and cleans its planes from "nose to tail" daily. Other airlines have implemented similar protocols to ensure the safety and comfort of their passengers.

These enhanced cleaning and sanitisation measures demonstrate the aviation industry's commitment to adapting to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and prioritising the health and safety of travellers and employees.

Contactless check-in

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the global economy and the day-to-day lives of people around the world. As countries have reopened and restrictions have been lifted, airports and airlines have implemented new measures to protect passengers and staff from the spread of COVID-19.

For example, at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, passengers can use their mobile device to check in and scan their boarding pass at a kiosk to print a bag tag for checked luggage. Similarly, at Bengaluru's Kempegowda Airport, passengers can use contactless kiosks to check in, and scan their own boarding passes at the gate. Passengers are also required to scan themselves in front of a thermal scanner and show a safe status on the Aarogya Setu app.

Other measures to reduce contact during check-in include virtual queuing, and the use of apps such as VeriFLY, which allow passengers to upload their negative COVID-19 test results to a mobile health passport and receive a QR code to facilitate the check-in process.

In addition to contactless check-in, airports are also implementing other safety measures such as disinfecting processes, frequent touchpoint sanitizing, and extensive safety procedures to increase passenger confidence and achieve a new standard of airport cleanliness.

Mandatory face masks

During the COVID-19 pandemic, airports and airlines implemented various measures to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. One of the most common and effective measures was the mandatory wearing of face masks. Face masks were required not only on aircraft but also in the airport terminals themselves. This measure was based on scientific evidence demonstrating that face masks, including cloth masks, effectively reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets. Masks serve as a form of source control, blocking the emission of respiratory droplets from infected individuals during talking, coughing, sneezing, and deep exhalation.

While mandatory mask-wearing was initially a consistent rule across airports and airlines, over time, policies began to vary. By May 2022, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) announced that the wearing of face masks in airports and on European flights was "no longer recommended." This decision was intended to mark a big step forward in the normalisation of air travel. However, both authorities emphasized that masks remained "one of the best protections" against COVID-19, and vulnerable passengers were advised to continue wearing them.

In the United States, the approach to mandatory face masks also evolved. While some airlines, such as American Airlines, required all passengers over the age of 2 to wear masks when not eating or drinking, other airlines relaxed their rules. By May 2022, several US airlines had scrapped mandatory face mask-wearing, aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities for public transport. Despite these changes, masks continued to be recommended as a protective measure, especially in crowded areas.

The implementation of mandatory face masks in airports and on aircraft played a crucial role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. By reducing the transmission of respiratory droplets, masks provided a layer of protection for individuals and those around them. While policies regarding mandatory mask-wearing have since relaxed, face masks remain a simple yet effective tool in the ongoing effort to manage the public health risks associated with COVID-19.

Social distancing

At the Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB), the Turkish Airlines Lounge in the domestic terminal is open with limited service and increased hygiene procedures. Houston Airports have also increased cleaning and reduced seat capacity on shuttles to promote social distancing. Similarly, Lufthansa's Fly Well initiative encourages contactless check-in, self-service bag drop, and social distancing whenever possible. They also provide hand sanitizer throughout the airport and a Fly Well pack containing a face mask and sanitizing wipes to passengers before boarding.

Some airlines initially blocked seats to promote social distancing and build trust with flyers. However, with constantly shifting guidance, it can be challenging for airlines and airports to keep up with the latest recommendations. For example, a traveller through Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in Texas noted that the airport was crowded with little social distancing, despite their previous visits to other airports, including London's Heathrow, Paris' Charles de Gaulle, and New York's La Guardia, which had been nearly empty with stricter COVID-19 safety regulations.

To promote social distancing and minimize exposure to COVID-19, commercial air carriers can submit CBP Form 7507 via email for arriving and departing aircraft during the pandemic. Additionally, passengers are advised to wear a face mask, carry disinfectant, and bring as little luggage as possible to expedite the security screening process and maintain distance from other travellers.

Testing and vaccination requirements

For example, passengers flying from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) can take onsite rapid tests, while American Airlines passengers can redeem miles for at-home COVID-19 tests. Additionally, those travelling to the US can use the VeriFLY app to upload their negative COVID-19 test results, facilitating a smoother check-in process.

Air Canada has introduced a comprehensive set of protocols called Air Canada CleanCare+, offering a touch-free experience from the bag drop onwards. All passengers aged 12 years and 4 months or older must be fully vaccinated to board flights departing from Canadian airports. Face coverings are also mandated for all adult passengers and crew, with children aged 2 and above required to wear masks on flights to and from the US.

British Airways has also implemented several safety measures, including touchless check-in and contact tracing. Passengers flying with BA can use the VeriFLY app for flights to the US and can purchase discounted COVID-19 testing kits for their return journey to the UK. The airline recommends changing masks every 4 hours and encourages passengers to follow the mask guidelines at their destination, whether onboard or disembarking.

In addition to testing and vaccination requirements, airports and airlines have also enhanced their cleaning and disinfection protocols. For instance, Salt Lake City International Airport transitioned to Flagship Aviation Services for advanced disinfecting processes and frequent touchpoint sanitizing. Similarly, British Airways disinfects key surfaces before boarding and thoroughly cleans its planes daily.

While testing and vaccination requirements vary across different airports and airlines, these measures play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and confidence of travellers during the pandemic.

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