ACI World report details airports’ management of Covid-19

Airports Council International (ACI) World has published Airport Operational Practice Examples for Managing Covid-19 — a report that contains examples of operational practices introduced by airport members from around the world in response to the restrictions and upheaval created by the coronavirus outbreak.

The report describes measures implemented at major international airports, gathered from across ACI’s membership.

These operational examples will assist other airports by allowing them to learn from their global peers as they seek to address the local impacts of Covid-19 on their own operations.

Key subjects covered in the report include:

• Adaptation of management and planning to respond to Covid-19 impacts;
• Staff management measures including education, wellbeing and health monitoring;
• Passenger management procedures including the introduction of temperature screening, health declaration, and cleaning and sanitizing;
• Changes to facilities management including cleaning of staff and public areas such as restaurants;
• Provision of protective and cleaning equipment;
• Airside operations and safety including risks and operational impacts;
• Security measures including passenger and staff security screening;
• Information technology requirements.

ACI World director general, Angela Gittens, commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on airports around the world.

“For airport operators, the main aims have been to protect the health and welfare of travelers, staff and the public, and to reduce the opportunities for further spread of the virus.

“Airports have had to adapt their practices to respond to the health and safety requirements of dealing with Covid-19 but have also had to reconfigure their operations due to the unprecedented losses in traffic and revenue.

“The publication is intended to provide a number of options and examples that airports can use, rather than being a best practice, so that they can provide the most appropriate local response to this global crisis.”

ACI World has thanked members of its Facilitation, Safety and Technical, Security and IT Standing Committees for their contributions.