ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Delhi International Airport is introducing new measures to enhance passenger safety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These include UV tunnels to disinfect checkpoint trays and baggage; a mobile UV tower to sanitise surfaces in the terminal area, a passenger trolley disinfection system and a series of walk-in shoe sanitiser mats.

"In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Delhi International Airport wants to ensure the safety of passengers travelling through the facility once the lockdown is lifted and flight operations resume," said an airport spokesperson.

"So we have developed a state-of-the-art unit that will disinfect all luggage trolleys using disinfectant and security trays and baggage with UV."

A live CCTV feed of the UV scanning process mounted at the airport's baggage reclaim hall will allow passengers to see for themselves their bags being disinfected. The process will involve high-intensity UV lamps carrying out baggage disinfection on conveyor belts.

Additionally, handheld disinfection torches will be used at the airport to disinfect desktop, laptops and other devices. And passengers will have to pass walk-in shoe sanitiser mats before travelling.

Airports around the world are stepping up measures to improve passenger safety in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are taking routine temperature checks of passengers and making masks and hand sanitisers available in vending machines.

And Hong Kong airport claims to be the first facility in the world to trial a full-body disinfection booth. The unit has an antimicrobial coating and during the 40-second disinfection and sanitising procedure, it is said to kill all viruses and bacteria on the passenger's clothing and body.