Now part of EASA’s COVID-19 programme, Brussels Airport has introduced a wide range of new health measures in order to keep passengers safe.
Credit: Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport (BRU) has been selected as one of the pilot airports by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for implementing operational recommendations linked to COVID-19.
EASA has set up a monitoring programme of its recommendations in which several airports set the example in implementing and following certain measures and, thus, helping to develop new best practices in the face of COVID-19. The pioneering airports commit to abiding by the EASA guidelines that are drawn up in consultation with both European aviation and public health authorities (including the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)) and to look for practical solutions for the aviation industry in this unprecedented crisis.
Brussels Airport is ready for the safe restart of commercial aviation. The health measures implemented at the airport are in line with EASA’s recommendations and the airport continues to work on improving sanitary safety, including looking for new technologies and measures that can offer a solution during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.
Over the past few months, Brussels Airport has introduced several sanitary measures to welcome passengers in a safe way and to ensure, as much as possible, the protection of the health of the few 100 passengers a day who had to take a plane for their essential travel. Social distancing, hand hygiene and the wearing of a face mask are the major elements. As non-essential travel will be allowed again shortly, Brussels Airport is implementing additional measures.
CEO of Brussels Airport, Arnaud Feist, said: “Brussels Airport is preparing actively for an expected increase in passenger traffic as soon as intra-European borders will open up again. Systematic body temperature controls of the passengers will be set up as from 15 June 2020. This control is in addition to all the health measures already taken to allow passengers to travel at ease.”
Additional health measures that are being/set to be implemented at the airport include:
Body temperature checks – Brussels Airport will install thermal cameras in front of the departures hall to check all passengers before they enter the terminal. For arriving passengers, a mobile body temperature monitoring unit will be put in place. Persons with a body temperature of more than 38°C can be denied access to the terminal
Access to the terminal – persons who are not travelling themselves or are not working at the airport will not be allowed to enter the terminal
Social distancing – social distancing must be observed at all times. Additional markings and signage has been put in place in view of increasing passenger traffic in the coming weeks and additional queueing barriers will also be set up in the terminal
Hygiene, UV sanitising technology and disinfection robot – Hand sanitiser dispensers are available around the terminal and the cleaning and disinfection frequencies for baggage trolleys and the trays at security screening has been increased, as well as the sanitary blocks and the general infrastructure. Frequently touched surfaces – such as vending machine keyboards and door handles in the sanitary blocks – will be given a self-disinfecting coating that kills bacteria and viruses. Another novelty is the use of UV sanitising technology to disinfect trolleys and the use of a robot to disinfect the floors.
With all these measures, Brussels Airport intends to provide a clean and hygienic infrastructure to its passengers, as well as contribute to a safe and carefree trip.
The journey of the traveler has been extensively revised to meet health security requirements: – hydroalcoholic gels everywhere and continuous cleaning, – modification of the procedures at the security post (PIF), – a large spacing and the wearing of the mask continuously for all (travelers as personal), – an adapted on-board service (no service on short flights, reduction of interactions on long flights), – thermal imaging cameras at the exit of the plane. is only in French
Head of association says aviation is at the ‘crossroads’ of global health and global economy and wants to safely re-connect the world; Airports Council International World joins with IATA on new guidelines By Matt Driskill – May 20, 2020 0 284
A screenshot of the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 tracking site taken on 20 May. To access the live site, click on the image. (PHOTO: Matt Driskill)
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the main trade group for the global aviation industry, has issued five “key principles” to help re-start the industry and also expanded on its earlier “layered approach” to biosafety for the flying public and the crews that serve them on the ground and in the air as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the industry.
The director general of IATA, Alexandre de Juniac, said during the association’s weekly media conference call, that the declaration of the five principles “is important because it demonstrates the industry’s unity of purpose and commitment to work with our stakeholders to safely re-connect our world. We hope that it will send a strong message to governments that they must also work together. COVID-19 is a global health crisis and a global economic crisis. Aviation is the crossroads of both”.
And on Wednesday (20 May), IATA and Airports Council International (ACI) jointly issued a paper laying out a pathway for restarting the aviation industry – Safely Restarting Aviation – ACI and IATA Joint Approach, which lays out some of the same positions as IATA mentioned on its media call.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general. (PHOTO: IATA file)
De Juniac, as he has in the recent past, called on governments and other organisations involved in aviation to cooperate on standards and measures to avoid the pitfalls that arise in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the US, which he called a “mess” because “governments acted unilaterally. This created confusion for airlines and travellers alike. And it took many years to clean up”.
“We have a small window to avoid these mistakes with COVID-19 by agreeing global standards for a re-start,” de Juniac said. “In doing so, we must build in measures for continuous review so that we can streamline the system as science and technology evolve. There is reason to be optimistic. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is leading an initiative called CART. That is the COVID-19 Aviation Recovery Task Force. And it is working well and fast. Our proposals are in support of that process.
“If we are successful in a smooth re-start for aviation that will pay big benefits in solving the economic dimension of the COVID-19 challenge,” de Juniac added. “The shape and size of the industry may change as a result of this crisis. But aviation will remain a critical support for vast sectors of the economy. The sooner we can safely reconnect the world, the more jobs can be saved. And, combined with economic stimulus packages, a reconnected world will be a solid foundation for economic recovery.”
IATA’s five principles for re-connecting the world by air transport
Aviation will always put safety and security first: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to implement a science-based biosecurity regime that will keep our passengers and crew safe while enabling efficient operations and ensure that aviation is not a meaningful source for the spread of communicable diseases, including COVID-19.
Aviation will respond flexibly as the crisis and science evolve: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to utilise new science and technology as it becomes available, for example, reliable, scalable and efficient solutions for COVID-19 testing or immunity passports and develop a predictable and effective approach to managing any future border closures or mobility restrictions as well as ensure that measures are scientifically supported, economically sustainable, operationally viable, continuously reviewed, and removed/replaced when no longer necessary.
Aviation will be a key driver of the economic recovery: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to re-establish capacity that can meet the demands of the economic recovery as quickly as possible and ensure that affordable air transport will be available in the post-pandemic period.
Aviation will meet its environment targets: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to achieve our long-term goal of cutting net carbon emissions to half of 2005 levels by 2050 and successfully implement the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
Aviation will operate to global standards which are harmonised and mutually recognised by governments: Airlines commit to work with our partners in governments, institutions and across the industry to establish the global standards necessary for an effective re-start of aviation, particularly drawing on strong partnerships with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and ensure that agreed measures are effectively implemented and mutually recognised by governments
IATA Outlines Layered Approach for Industry Re-Start
IATA has also published Biosecurity for Air Transport: A Roadmap for Restarting Aviation, which outlines IATA’s proposal for a layering of temporary biosecurity measures. The roadmap aims to provide the confidence that governments will need to enable the re-opening of borders to passenger travel; and the confidence that travellers will need to return to flying. Pre-flight, IATA said it foresees the need for governments to collect passenger data in advance of travel, including health information, which should be accomplished using well-tested channels such as those used for eVisa or electronic travel authorisation programmes.
Some airlines, like Emirates, are already testing passengers for COVID-19 before they even check in. (PHOTO: Emirates)
At the departure airport, IATA foresees several layers of protective measures, including:
Access to the terminal building should be restricted to airport / airline workers and travellers (with exceptions being made for those accompanying passengers with disabilities or unaccompanied minors)
Temperature screening by trained government staff at entry points to the terminal building
Physical distancing through all passenger processes, including queue management
Use of face coverings for passengers and masks for staff in line with local regulations.
Self-service options for check-in used by passengers as much as possible to reduce contact points and queues. This includes remote check-in (electronic / home printed boarding passes), automated bag drops (with home printed bag tags) and self-boarding.
Boarding should be made as efficient as possible with re-designed gate areas, congestion-reducing boarding priorities, and hand luggage limitations.
Cleaning and sanitisation of high touch areas in line with local regulations. This includes wide availability of hand sanitisers.
Passengers will be asked to wear masks on-board and take other measures to protect themselves and fellow passengers. (PHOTO: Qantas)
In-flight, IATA foresees several layers of protective measures, including:
Face coverings required for all passengers and non-surgical masks for crew.
Simplified cabin service and pre-packaged catering to reduce interaction between passengers and crew.
Reduced congregation of passengers in the cabin, for example by prohibiting queues for washrooms.
Enhanced and more frequent deep cleaning of the cabin.
At the arrival airport, IATA foresees several layers of protective measures:
Temperature screening by trained government staff if required by authorities.
Automated procedures for customs and border control including use of mobile applications and biometric technologies (which have already proven track record by some governments).
Accelerated processing and baggage reclaim to enable social distancing by reducing congestion and queuing.
Health declarations and robust contact tracing are expected to be undertaken by governments to reduce the risk of imported chains of transmission.
IATA stressed that these measures should be temporary, regularly reviewed, replaced when more efficient options are identified or removed should they become unnecessary. Specifically, IATA expressed hope in two areas which could be ‘game-changers’ in facilitating efficient travel until a vaccine is found:
“The roadmap is the industry’s high-level thinking on safely re-starting aviation. Timing is critical,” said IATA’s de Juniac. “Governments understand the importance of aviation to the social and economic recovery of their countries and many are planning a phased re-opening of borders in the coming months. We have a short time to reach agreement on the initial standards to support safely reconnecting the world and to firmly establish that global standards are essential to success. This will change as technology and medical science advances. The vital element is coordination. If we don’t take these first steps in a harmonised way, we will spend many painful years recovering ground that should not have been lost.”
Over the past couple of weeks, TSA has experienced a steady growth of travelers coming through airport checkpoints. (Source: Scott Olson)
By NBC12 Newsroom| May 24, 2020 at 9:04 PM EDT – Updated May 24 at 9:04 PM
WASHINGTON (WWBT) – The Transportation Security Administration is preparing a very different travel season given the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. TSA has implemented changes to the security screening process that reduce the potential for cross-contamination at the security checkpoint in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. TSA has already begun implementation of these changes – with more to be implemented at airport checkpoints nationwide by mid-June.
“In the interest of TSA frontline workers and traveler health, TSA is committed to making prudent changes to our screening processes to limit physical contact and increase physical distance as much as possible,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We continue to evaluate our security measures with an eye towards making smart, timely decisions benefiting health and safety, as well as the traveler experience.”
Over the past couple of weeks, TSA has experienced a steady growth of travelers coming through airport checkpoints. As procedure changes begin to rollout in the coming weeks, travelers should expect to:
Keep possession of their boarding passes. Instead of handing their boarding pass to a TSA officer at the travel document podium, travelers should now place their boarding pass (paper or electronic) on the boarding pass reader themselves. After scanning, travelers should hold their boarding pass toward the TSA officer to allow the officer to visually inspect it. This change reduces the TSA officer’s need to touch a passenger’s boarding pass thus reducing potential for cross-contamination.
Separate food for X-ray screening. Passengers should place their carry-on food items into a clear plastic bag and place that bag into a bin. Food items often trigger an alarm during the screening process; separating the food from the carry-on bag lessens the likelihood that a TSA officer will need to open the carry-on bag and remove the food items for a closer inspection. This requirement allows social distancing, reduces the TSA officer’s need to touch a person’s container of food and reduces potential for cross-contamination. TSA Precheck members do not need to remove items from their bags.
Pack smart. Passengers should take extra care to ensure that they do not have any prohibited items, such as liquids, gels or aerosols in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces, in their carry-on bags (water bottles, shampoo). In response to COVID-19, TSA is allowing one liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags. Passengers are required to remove the hand sanitizer from the carry-on bag before being submitted for x-ray screening. If a bag is found to contain a prohibited item, passengers may be directed to return to the divestiture table outside of security with their carry-on bags to remove the item and dispose of the item. The passenger may also be directed back outside of security to remove, items that should have originally been divested (such as laptops, liquids, gels, and aerosols, and large electronics) and resubmit their property for X-ray screening. By resolving alarms in this manner, TSA officers will need to touch the contents inside a carry-on bag much less frequently, reducing the potential for cross-contamination.
Practice social distancing. Passengers should allow for social distancing to reduce direct contact between employees and travelers whenever possible without compromising security. Noticeable adjustments leading up to the security checkpoint include, increasing the distance between individuals as they enter the security checkpoint, placing visual reminders of appropriate spacing on checkpoint floors and staggering the use of lanes where feasible. No two airports are alike, so this could look a little different at each airport.
Wear facial protection. TSA officers at checkpoints are now using facial protection. Travelers are encouraged to wear face protection to the checkpoint as well. Please note, however, passengers may need to adjust it during the screening process. Travelers are also encouraged to remove items such as belts, and items from their pockets, like wallets, keys and phones, and put them directly into their carry-on bags instead of into the bins to reduce touch-points during the screening process.
Travelers who have not flown since the pandemic are also likely to notice some other changes. They include:
Reduced security lane usage due to the reduction in passenger volume.
All TSA officers at checkpoints wearing masks and gloves.
TSA officers optionally wearing eye protection and clear plastic face shields at some locations.
TSA officers will continue the practice of changing gloves after each pat-down.
Plastic shielding installed at many travel document checking podiums, divest, bag search and drop off locations.
TSA officers practicing social distancing.
Routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces in the screening checkpoint area.
Many airlines and airports are also providing specific COVID-19 related guidance to travelers; please check with your airline prior to your trip. Travelers are encouraged to arrive at the airport early as COVID-19 has affected staffing and operations across the airport environment.
This will allow adequate time for checking bags, completing security screening and getting to the departure gate. Individuals who were traveling in the early months of the pandemic became accustomed to arriving at the security checkpoint shortly before their flight departure time.
TSA recommends that travelers no longer do so (or arrive well in advance of their flight) since more people are flying and new procedures such as social distancing have been implemented in airports, potentially adding time to the pre-flight experience.
For more information on the TSA security screening process during the pandemic, visit www.tsa.gov/coronavirus.
Flying won’t be the same for the forseeable future
Passengers wearing PPE walk through the arrivals at Heathrow (Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
With the easing of lockdown on the horizon, many Londoners are going to start thinking about travelling abroad again.
But with the pandemic far from over, passenger welfare is forcing airports to bring in numerous new measures.
Some have already been implemented by the airports themselves while others are being imposed by the government after months of being asked by airports for more direct guidance.
From June 8, the vast majority of passengers arriving in the UK by plane, ferry or train will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
These rules were announced on Friday (May 22) by Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Passengers are urged to use personal transport such as a car to get from the airport to the place they will quarantine.
According to government advice, people quarantining “should not go to work, school, or public areas, or use public transport or taxis. They should not have visitors, including friends and family, unless they are providing essential support.”
2. Rule breakers could be fined
As a way of enforcing the new measures, the government will be able to issue fines to rule breakers.
Flyers who breach the quarantine rules could face a £1,000 fixed penalty notice or even a potential prosecution and unlimited fine.
According to the authorities: “The level of fine could increase if the risk of infection from abroad increases.”
3. Who doesn’t have to quarantine?
Despite the strict and enforced rules, some people will be exempt.
These include:
truckers and lorry drivers. This is ensure the supply of goods is not impacted
medical professionals travelling to help with the fight against coronavirus
anyone moving from within the Common Travel Area, covering Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man
seasonal agricultural workers who will self-isolate on the property they are working at
Other options will be looked at such as the establishment of ‘air bridges’.
These are agreements between countries of low transmission rates to not require quarantining.
4. Where you can quarantine
Passengers who need to quarantine (ie the majority) will have to tell authorities where they will be isolating.
If the property is not deemed suitable they could be required to self-isolate in facilities arranged by the government.
The government said: “If this does not meet the necessary requirements – such as hotels, or with friends or family – they will be required to self-isolate in facilities arranged by the government.”
MyLondon have contacted the Home Office for more detail on what the “necessary requirements” are and what properties meet them.
5. Contact locater
To ensure that passengers are self-isolating and doing it in an appropriate location, all arrivals will be required to fill in a form with contact and further travel information.
This will mean the government can contact the passenger if they or anyone they’ve been in contact with contracts the disease.
Also the passenger will provide the details of where they will be spending the 14 day quarantine and authorities can deem if they meet the “necessary requirements”.
A view inside a quiet Terminal 5 departure lounge at Heathrow Airport as the airport expects 90% fewer passengers compared to April last year (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
6. Limited destinations
Despite all the measures put in place on the London end of the flight, some destinations will not be available due to decisions on the other end.
Spain, a hugely popular destination for British tourists, has said that only Spanish citizens, legal residents of the country and those on essential journeys will be allowed into the country.
Similarly Greece has not included the UK in the list of countries from where they will accept holidaymakers.
Italy, France, US, Canada, UAE, Australia and New Zealand are also among the countries that have imposed forms of restrictions.
In this rapidly changing situation, the range of destinations will be limited.
7. Mandatory PPE and social distancing
Two phrases we never had to think about until the pandemic swept in.
Now they’re part of most conversations and many of the airports require them.
The government have said all passengers should remain 2m apart and where possible wear a face mask.
Those travelling through Stansted have already been told to cover their faces and wear gloves.
These measures are widely believed to be one of the most effective ways of stopping the spread.
With the huge impact of Covid-19 on the profitability and operations, it is a matter of survival of airports and airlines to re-invent themselves and to come up with ways to get through this crises in one piece. If there is one thing that we can say with absolute certainty, it is the fact that ‘it will never be the same as before’. Innovative and effective technologies can help to make the difference. The Teleportel Live Video Interaction Kiosk is one of those technologies that can make the difference.
ACI EUROPE has signalled a safe return to air travel, as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published their anticipated Aviation Health Safety Protocol.
ACI EUROPE has signalled a safe return to air travel, as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published their anticipated Aviation Health Safety Protocol.
Welcoming the new guidance addressed to European States, Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, highlighted the imperative of ensuring the safest and healthiest passenger experience possible as a number of States are looking at lifting restrictions to travel – so that air connectivity can be gradually restored.
“Safety and security have always been uncompromising priorities for aviation, and both are firmly ingrained into every airport’s operations and corporate culture. Building on this track record, the Aviation Health Safety Protocol designed jointly by EASA and ECDC is fully aligned with our industry’s focus on passenger and staff wellbeing. Crucially, it has the four vital ingredients needed to contain and limit COVID-19 transmission risks during air travel. It is risk-based, effective, proportionate and practical. With this Protocol, passengers can return to air travel with confidence.”
He added: “The ball is now back at national level. We urge European States to fully adhere to what EASA and the ECDC are recommending. This is the European standard they need to follow, and they should not depart from it – so we can ensure truly uniform and coherent measures across our continent. Doing otherwise would only risk working against passenger confidence and further delay the restoration of air connectivity, and with it the recovery of travel and tourism across our continent.”
Most airports have already anticipated many of the measures outlined by EASA and ECDC, and all are looking forward to continuing to work closely with their health and aviation authorities.
ACI EUROPE also stressed the importance of responsible and abiding behaviour from passengers – especially as regards the wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and limiting direct physical contact with other travellers and staff. Jankovec commented: “Everyone needs to embrace what is essentially a new etiquette for air travel – just as we have been doing in our daily routine for weeks. This means effective communications will be as important as the measures themselves, and this is something ACI EUROPE has already started working on with its membership in cooperation with EASA.”
To further support its 500+ airport membership, ACI EUROPE will shortly publish industry “Guidelines for a Healthy Passenger Experience”, which will further build upon the EASA and ECDC protocol and provide detailed implementation strategies as air services resume.
As airports begin to reopen over the coming months, they’ll find themselves in a very different operating environment: airlines tottering on the edge of bankruptcy, national governments providing sporadic infusions of cash, and the ever-present threat of a new wave of shutdowns. All these factors will have a big impact on how airports make money –and how they spend it. Moving forward, airports will see a major reconfiguration of their cost centers and revenue sources, leading to a paradigm shift in the airport business model. What components of that model will be the most resilient? And which are most vulnerable to disruption?
An analysis of cost centers is beyond the scope of this article, but here are a few brief thoughts anyway. In the short term, airports will need to allocate a bigger part of their budget to health and hygiene. We’ll also see airports spending more money on digitization and climate change adaptation. Both will lead to big up-front costs but will provide considerable benefits in the long run. Full automation of check-in and CIQ procedures will cut down on airports’ labor costs. And while making airports more resource-efficient will require major capital investments, these measures will reduce ongoing energy, water and waste disposal charges.
What about revenue sources? Prior to coronavirus, airports derived about 60% of their revenue from aeronautical charges – that is, fees levied on airlines and passengers. The remaining 40% came from non-aeronautical revenue such as travel retail, parking and property development. How future-proof is that business model, given the scale of the current crisis?
Let’s start with the bad news: airlines are screwed. With virtually no customers in the air and debts piling up, they’re struggling to pay their bills. Many are counting on parking and landing fee waivers to get through the crisis. That has big implications for airports. On average, they earn about 20% of their revenue from those airline charges. Airports in North America, where airline charges make up closer to 40% of total revenue, are especially exposed.
Airports’ immediate challenge is to replace that missing income One option is to request government subsidies until air traffic recovers. But ongoing transfers could prove to be a tough sell, both financially and ideologically. Another option is to place the burden on travelers by increasing passenger fees. That shift was already happening before COVID-19, with airports levying higher passenger facility fees while reducing airline charges. But that strategy has its limits. In the EU, passengers are unlikely to feel much sympathy for airlines that are refusing to issue refunds for cancelled flights. That’s a violation of national and international laws – and more importantly, it’s a violation of trust. (I’m looking at you, Lufthansa, TAP and many other airlines out there. You’re destroying your relationship with your customers – shame on you!)
If our goal is to win back customers, raising passenger fees isn’t the right way to do it. It’s also tricky in the USA, where federal regulations cap passenger facility charges. While those rules desperately need to be reviewed, that’s unlikely to happen quickly.
So, what’s a better approach? Successful airports will focus on increasing non-aeronautical revenue, and they’ll do that in two ways. First, they’ll adapt their terminal concessions strategy to engage with post-pandemic travel habits and shopping patterns. Second, airports will prioritize non-passenger revenue in order to expand their existing customer base.
Pandemic-proof concessions As passengers start flying again, they will avoid activities that involve sharing confined spaces with strangers. That will take a toll on terminal concessions. As shops and food outlets adapt to social distancing rules, revenue per square foot will drop. Some concessions operators may ask for lower rents.
But there could also be some hidden benefits. To bring back skeptical customers, airlines will emphasize hygiene, well-being and bodily comfort in their ad campaigns. That could translate into increased demand for terminal space, as airlines expand cramped lounges in order to woo premium travelers. We’ll also see more demand for pay-for-use work and relaxation rooms where infrequent travelers can get away from the crowds.
At the same time, shops and F&B outlets will need to up their digital game if they want to remain profitable. That will push airports to increase grab-and-go and on-demand delivery options. Let’s say I arrive at my gate and discover that I’ve forgotten my phone charger. I’m also a little hungry. If I’m at a successful airport, I’ll be able to pull out my phone, type in ‘phone charger’ and ‘tuna salad’ and have those items delivered to me with plenty of time to spare before boarding. If I’m at a less successful airport, I’ll fly out with an empty stomach and an empty phone battery, and the airport will have missed out on a sale.
The takeaway: Physical distancing will oblige airports to redesign their lounges and concessions areas. It will also expand e-commerce opportunities inside the terminal. Leading hubs already offer pre-ordered and on-demand delivery options. Many more will join them soon. That will require big changes in shop design and staff management. It will also force airports to digitize if they want to return to pre-pandemic levels of commercial revenue.
Expand airports’ customer base As the current crisis makes all too clear, aviation is an unpredictable business. From one day to the next, airports have experienced a massive decline in traffic. Revenues have crashed. This isn’t our first time to the rodeo: September 11, the 2008 economic crisis and the Icelandic ash cloud all presented challenges that were unpredictable, immediate and devastating in their effects. Downturns in the aviation industry are cyclical – and when air travel goes down, it falls hard and fast. These risks are inherent to our business. How can we mitigate them?
The first step is to ask who our customers are. If you ask some airport execs that question, they’ll give you a simple answer: airlines and passengers. But the answer isn’t that simple. Taking their cue from previous downturns, successful airports have expanded their customer base, beyond just airlines and passengers, to include customers on the ground. They seek out income-generating activities that are not dependent on air traffic for their success – what airport real-estate expert Pieter van der Horst calls “non-passenger revenue”.
What are some examples of non-passenger revenue? By and large, it falls into two categories: goods and services for local residents and employees, and commercial real estate for local businesses. Successful airports recognize that these non-passenger revenue sources are much more than additional income streams. Non-passenger revenue helps airports to maintain profitability during those turbulent periods when unexpected events – a terror attack, an airline bankruptcy, a public health crisis – lead to abrupt declines in passenger-related income.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a good example. The airport is currently operating one to two flights per hour, leaving departure concourses eerily quiet. In a day, passenger revenue disappeared. Landside, however, shops are still in business. That’s because they cater to local commuters who change trains at Schiphol, and to local residents who live in surrounding communities. Outside the terminal, dozens of office buildings house hundreds of large and small companies. All of them are locked into 5- and 10-year lease agreements, guaranteeing substantial returns for Schiphol. That’s a big help right now.
In summary, successful airports diversify their revenue sources to mitigate risk. When a terror attack or health emergency wreaks havoc on their core business, they rely on non-passenger revenue to maintain profitability.
Final thought A recent study by McKinsey estimates that it will take until at least 2022 for air traffic to return to pre-crisis levels. In a worst-case scenario, the recovery could last well into 2023 and beyond.
In the meantime, airports will need to make peace with three unpalatable aspects of the new normal: fewer passengers, costly health regulations and airlines that don’t pay their bills on time. Successful airports will step up to the challenge by offering a wider variety of goods and services to air travelers. For nearly a decade, the per-passenger spend on those non-aeronautical items has remained constant at around US$7. We can do better than that!
Successful airports will also learn from the current crisis by diversifying their customer base, turning to non-passenger revenue to compensate for the decline in air traffic. Focusing on non-passenger revenue sources – goods and services for local consumers, along with commercial real estate for local businesses – will deliver substantial benefits to the entire industry. Airports will grow more resilient in times of crisis, and less dependent on aeronautical charges to cover their costs.
At the same time, the pandemic will have a long-lasting impact on the way we develop airport real estate – but that’s the subject of another article.
Until then, here’s a question for you: How is your airport dealing with the financial fallout from COVID-19? And where do you see opportunities to innovate the airport business model?
Angela Gittens, Director General of ACI World, details how COVID-19 has impacted airport business, and the recovery measures available to the industry.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a full-scale crisis with the imposition of travel restrictions and suspension of flights in a global effort to contain the spread of the virus. Aviation, and in particular airports, have been brought to a virtual halt and the industry is in survival mode, crippled by the loss of traffic and revenues.
Due to the fast and radical shifts in the world and the air transport industry, ACI continues to periodically update the impact of COVID-19 on airport business. As of 5 May 2020, ACI World estimates a reduction of more than two billion passengers at the global level in the second quarter of 2020 and more than 4.6 billion passengers for all of 2020.
Turning to economics, airport revenue streams have been paralysed by the unprecedented drop in aviation and commercial activity. The estimated decline in total airport revenues on a global scale is estimated to be $39.2 billion (USD) in the second quarter and more than $97 billion for 2020.
Airports must continue to meet their capital expenses obligations as they remain characterised by predominantly high fixed costs necessary for maintaining and operating the infrastructure components of the airport, including runways, taxiways, aprons, parking stands and terminal buildings. The impact of COVID-19 has thus resulted in an existential threat to airports and to the aviation industry at large.
Airports have adopted immediate measures to manage the pandemic as shown in ACI World’s recently-released ‘Airport Operational Practice – Examples for Managing COVID-19’, which describes such measures implemented at major international airports, gathered from across ACI’s membership. It is available, free of charge, on the ACI World website.
Indeed, the subject matter experts from World and Regions have come together to establish a pipeline of free support and information to assist members in navigating this period. As the industry moves into recovery mode, the information and technical guidance that we package and provide will be tailored towards supporting these efforts.
In this regard, ACI has just released a roadmap for the airport industry’s recovery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ‘Policy Brief – COVID-19: Relief Measures to Ensure the Survival of the Airport Industry’ – outlines exceptional measures to provide policymakers with a comprehensive toolkit of solutions to ensure that the airport industry can be sustained through the crisis and lay the foundation for recovery.
Briefly, these include the protection of airport charges and revenues, tax relief, concession fee waiver, the temporary suspension of slot usages, the continuity of air cargo operations and comprehensive financial relief. These measures will ensure that financial assistance does not benefit one part of the industry over another.
ACI pledges to support its members through the global crisis and to do its part in building a thriving and resilient aviation industry
In addition, ACI is part of ICAO’s Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), comprised of a number of its Member States, international organisations, such as WHO, and industry bodies. Over the coming weeks, the group will agree on a series of recommendations focusing on the restart and the recovery phases of getting the aviation industry moving again.
read more at source : https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/117249/covid-19-airport-business-aci-world-recovery/
(London, 19. May 2020) – Veovo today announced the introduction of their Virtual Queueing and Passenger Density Management solutions, designed to help support social distancing in airports.
With COVID-19 lockdowns beginning to ease, the pace at which flying restrictions will be lifted is likely to be heavily influenced by airports’ ability to implement physical distancing measures. In support of these new requirements, Veovo has released a new addition to their stable of solutions, designed to monitor crowd density and maintain safe distancing airport-wide.
The newly introduced solutions use movement monitoring and machine learning to offer real-time and predictive passenger density and movement insights, for better live situational awareness and future planning.
Virtual Queuing
Veovo’s Virtual Queueing solution enables travellers to pre-book a time slot for processing at airport checkpoints, rather than having to wait in line.
It enables airports to control queue entry, preventing too many people from congregating in one area and evenly distributing passengers across the airport’s checkpoints. Available time slots are adjusted in real-time, based on queue wait times, changing arrival patterns and processing capacity so that passengers show up at the optimum time.
Passenger Density Management
Veovo’s Passenger Density Management solution monitors crowd density in queues and spaces across the terminal, enabling airports to take action if social distancing limits are at risk of being breached.
The solution bundles location analysis from various IoT sensors, with machine learning and an alert framework, to give a detailed view of how people move and dwell. From typical crowding zones like check-in and security to areas like gates and concessions, it continuously monitors and analyses movement to highlight the degree of risk in real-time.
Live heatmaps and dashboards show operators a reliable breakdown of the current situation, triggering tailored alarms and automated actions if density thresholds, based on current guidelines (for instance 6 feet, 1 or 2 metres), are exceeded. Recommendations to limit crowding can include capping entry to busy escalators or stairwells, adjusting security lane openings, changing call-to-gate times, updating digital signage, or distributing gate and baggage belt allocations.
With these valuable people movement insights, operators can also improve the responsiveness of sanitation service providers, directing teams to where cleaning is most needed.
Besides real-time insights, the Veovo platform also includes predictive capabilities that not only help operators manage crowding in real-time but also plan for days, weeks and months ahead. It offers detailed insights into people’s movement habits, and how factors like time of day or day of the week, or other events, affect passenger behaviour.
“Having worked with busy international airports globally, in smoothing passenger journeys, we understand the enormous challenge the industry currently faces in supporting physical distancing,” said James Williamson, CEO of Veovo. “To safely manage crowding, operators need accurate, timely data. By accommodating new social distancing needs in our solution, we enable safe and proactive planning to reduce crowds and to make sanitation and disinfection programmes more effective.”
The Virtual Queuing and Passenger Density Management solutions are quick to deploy, allowing airports to rapidly support social distancing recommendations. The solutions can provide detailed insights within weeks while allowing operators to continue adapting to maximise safety and efficiency.
read more at source : https://veovo.com/discover/news/airport-social-distancing-solution/
