ACI World publishes operational practices to assist airports’ COVID-19 response
The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely impacted airports around the world
Montreal, 15 April 2020 – Airports Council International (ACI) World has today published examples of operational practices introduced by airport members from around the world in response to the restrictions and upheaval created by COVID-19.
The document published today – Airport Operational Practice Examples for Managing COVID-19 – describes a set of typical measures implemented at major international airports, gathered from across ACI’s membership.
National regulators and health authorities have reacted to the spread of the virus by introducing measures directly affecting aviation and more broadly across society. Most airports are operating at vastly reduced capacity, and almost all have introduced operational measures to deal with the crisis.
These operational examples will assist 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.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on airports around the world,” ACI World Director General Angela Gittens said.
“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.”
Key subjects covered in the publication 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, and
- Information technology requirements.
ACI World would like to thank members of its Facilitation, Safety and Technical, Security and IT Standing Committees for their contributions.
It should be noted that local regulations may require alternative measures and approaches.
Notes for editors
- The Airport Operational Practice Examples for Managing COVID-19 publication is available on the ACI World website.
- ACI World has also issued Advisory Bulletins on the updated Global Economic Impact on the airports sector, Transmission of Communicable Diseases, one on best practice for security screening during the COVID-19 pandemic, and one on challenges for Airport IT.
- Stay up to date with ACI World’s COVID-19 communications through its dedicated news hub.
- Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, customer-centric and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2020, ACI serves 668 members, operating 1979 airports in 176 countries.
Media contacts
Bojana Jeremic
Manager, External Relations and Special Events
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1254
Email: mediarelations@aci.aero
Sabrina Guerrieri
Manager, Communications
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1200
Email: mediarelations@aci.aero