HIA continues to showcase its compliance with international aviation guidelines to preserve the health and safety of staff and passengers
Hamad International Airport (HIA) has been re-certified by BSI – British Standards Institution – for its successful compliance with the safety and hygiene measures issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Civil Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART).
CART was developed to mitigate the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the global aviation industry and provide practical and aligned guidance to industry stakeholders for the safe recovery of air travel.
Rebuilding passenger confidence
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, Qatar’s award-winning airport has continued to lead the recovery of international travel by rebuilding passenger confidence through ceaselessly monitoring and implementing the latest health, safety and security standards outlined by renowned industry institutions. BSI’s re-certification attests to the airport’s execution of these measures, which provides health, hygiene and safety assurance to passengers travelling through HIA. The airport was the first global entity to receive the certification of the ICAO CART guidelines by BSI at the onset of the pandemic and has now successfully achieved its re-certification.
HIA’s ongoing safety measures include a vaccination drive for its staff to ensure their safety and well-being. Innovative solutions are also being adopted across the terminal to provide a seamless and touchless journey for passengers. These technological solutions are evident in the airport’s carry-on baggage screening, contactless elevators and cashless payment options. In addition, HIA and the national carrier, Qatar Airways, are both part of IATA’s Travel Pass trial, a digital platform that hopefully, will once again increase the public’s confidence in travel.
According to HIA Chief Operating Officer Engineer Badr Mohammed Al Meer, it is encouraging to see that their commitment to follow the highest industry benchmark for delivering a safe and secure airport environment is being recognised.
HIA’s compliance to the CART health and safety guidelines has contributed to our position as the preferred travel hub for global passengers during the pandemic, providing travellers comfort and security throughout their journey.
Engineer Al Meer said that such industry protocols are vital for the safe restart of air travel.
As more airports comply with ICAO CART guidelines, we can collectively boost passenger confidence and contribute to the highly anticipated re-emergence of air travel. HIA’s re-verification is an achievement for all our staff and stakeholders, as we have been working tirelessly towards building a new chapter for the global aviation industry.
Theuns Kotze, Managing Director, Assurance IMETA at BSI said they are delighted that HIA has achieved the re-certification.
Additional safety and hygiene measures at HIA include the strategic installation of hand sanitisers throughout the terminal, regular sanitisation of all staff and passenger touchpoints, frequent disinfection of baggage trolleys and tubs, baggage UV disinfection tunnels, and autonomous UV disinfectant robots. Physical distancing is also maintained with the aid of floor stickers, queuing barriers, digital signage, acrylic barriers, distance seating, and recurring announcements reinforcing the importance of following safety protocols.
These efforts have also been recognised by other prominent organisations. HIA is the first and only airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating.
For updates and more information about HIA, visit dohahamadairport.com.
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