Introducing YVR’s health and safety programme, TAKEcare

Credit: Vancouver Airport Authority

As the travel and aviation industries learn to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, airports are pivoting their plans and procedures to align with the ‘new normal’ for air travel.

On 18 June 2020, Vancouver Airport Authority announced a new health and safety programme at Vancouver International Airport (YVR): YVR TAKEcare. The programme places industry-leading health, safety and cleaning practices and protocols at the forefront of airport processes and includes close collaboration with business partners. TAKEcare was built to evolve with new guidance and directives from health authorities and provide reassurance to travellers and airport workers that their safety is the top priority.

YVR’s TAKEcare programme is a multi-layered approach to help rebuild confidence in air travel with four key pillars: Improved processes, new and enhanced measures, clear communication, and adaptability and flexibility.

Credit: Vancouver Airport Authority

Improved processes

By investing in new technologies and reconfiguring airport infrastructure, YVR is streamlining airport processes to ensure a seamless, touchless and physically-distanced travel experience wherever possible in the airport. This includes requiring face coverings to be worn at all times in the terminal, requesting only travellers with a valid ticket and employees enter YVR, increasing cleaning in all high-touch areas, providing hand sanitiser stations throughout the airport and installing plexiglass at counters.

New and enhanced measures

With direction from health authorities, YVR continues to implement the latest safety standards and preventative measures, incorporating industry best practices and collaborating with all business partners. Current measures underway include mandatory temperature screening of all outbound passengers at security screening checkpoints in the main terminal, using autonomous cleaning devices on the floors, deploying multiple Hygena units – which provide rapid and accurate sanitisation verification – using the Green Machine to regularly clean the kerbside and implementing ultra-violet (UV) technology to detect the cleanliness of surfaces in high-touch areas, such as escalators and baggage carts.

Clear communication

While YVR continues to update and evolve processes, it is important to ensure that clear information is being shared at every step of the passenger journey, so that airport visitors are equipped with the proper information. In addition to increasing signage throughout the terminal, TAKEcare team members are placed in key locations throughout the airport to ensure that all airport visitors are following the health and safety guidelines.

Credit: Vancouver Airport Authority

Adaptability and flexibility

YVR continues to carefully monitor evolving government, health authority and industry expert directives to ensure that the TAKEcare programme remains up to date. On 29 July 2020, YVR announced an expansion of the programme, which included the facilitation of temperature screening and the implementation of new cleaning technology.

Passengers are encouraged to review the TAKEcare programme and passenger steps before travelling through YVR. There is also an option to sign up to receive the latest updates via email to ensure that passengers have all the information they need to travel safely.