Aberdeen and Glasgow airports commended for practice of COVID-19 safety

Aberdeen International (ABZ) and Glasgow (GLA) airports have been praised for its high-safety standards following the introduction of the international COVID-19-secure audit scheme. The voluntary scheme was launched by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with aims to increase passengers’ confidence in flying as the safe restart of international air travel continues, as well as following a recommendation from the UK government’s Global Travel Task Force.

Both airports invested significantly early during the COVID-19 pandemic to introduce a series of safety measures to reassure staff and passengers during the biggest health crisis in a generation. The safety measures and procedures put in place at both Aberdeen and Glasgow were measured alongside many of the world’s leading airports.

The health and safety measures were deemed best practice by the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force COVID-19-secure guidance set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The audits consisted of three phases. The first, a self-assessment, the second, an evidence-based review and lastly, a physical visit to each airport conducted by the CAA and scientists from both Public Health England and Scotland bodies.

Mark Johnston, Chief Operating Officer at AGS Airports Ltd, owners of Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, said: “Our airports remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and played an important role in supporting the national effort during the last 18 months.

“They supported lifeline routes to the islands, ensured PPE cargo arrived safely, helped maintain critical connectivity for key workers in sectors such as, oil and gas and provided facilities for COVID-19 testing centres.”  

“We are really pleased with the positive feedback we received from the audit teams who visited both our airports recently. As a group we acted quickly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that our passengers and people always felt safe and the measures in place will continue to support this as air travel slowly opens up and more people choose to fly,” added Johnston.  

“A lot of credit must go to our operational staff, who work incredibly hard to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone who passes through or works within our terminals.”

Enhanced health measures introduced at both airports

During the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, both airports formed additional health and safety measures to follow including: the use of electrostatic fogging machines, which disinfect surfaces within two minutes, passenger touchpoints such as security trays, are being treated with an 99.99 per cent effective against COVID-19 antimicrobial product, which kills germs and lasts for up to 30 days on surfaces. Alongside this, self-cleaning stations for trollies have been set-up in baggage halls and hand sanitiser dispensers have been installed throughout the terminals, as well as floor markers placed across the terminals to help passengers physically social distance where it is possible to do so. Other clear signage has been placed throughout the airports advising of the measures and staff members have received thorough training on how to protect customers and colleagues against COVID-19.