ACI World has launched an accreditation program to assist airports by assessing new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The accreditation program provides airports with an assessment of how aligned their health measures are with the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) Recommendations as well as industry best practices.
The ACI wants the program to enable airports to demonstrate to passengers, staff, regulators and governments that they are prioritizing health and safety in a measurable, established manner while also validating their own measures and processes.
“While the Covid-19 pandemic’s effects have halted the airport industry at global level, airports are vital cogs in the aviation ecosystem, and our Airport Health Accreditation program will help to restore passenger confidence in air travel,” explained ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira. “As important engines of growth, wealth creation and employment, the recovery of the airport sector will be a significant driver of the global economic recovery. Key to this recovery will be reassuring the traveling public that airports are prioritizing health and safety and providing safe and hygienic facilities.”
Topics covered by the accreditation include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing (where feasible and practical), staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and passenger facilities. The program is voluntary and open to all ACI member airports of all sizes in all regions. Upon submission of the completed questionnaire and all supporting materials, a virtual evaluation is conducted online by ACI to determine that health measures are being applied in alignment with ICAO CART guidelines, as well as EASA, and ACI recovery guidance, including ACI Europe’s Guidelines for a Healthy Passenger Experience at Airports.