Brussels Airport selected by EASA for COVID-19 monitoring programme

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.