Hamad International Airport (HIA) has announced that it is the first entity in the world to achieve independent verification from BSI (British Standards Institution) for its implementation of COVID-19 ICAO Aviation Health Safety Protocols. The verification was conducted following successful audits for Compliance to International Civil Aviation Organization Civil Aviation Recovery Taskforce (ICAO CART).
Qatar’s airport received the verification certificate during an official handover ceremony attended by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, the British Ambassador to Qatar, Mr. Jonathan Wilks CMG, H.E Mr. Abdulla bin Nasser Turki Al-Subaey, President of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, HIA’s Chief Operation Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Mr. Jamal Dalli, Business Development Manager at BSI, among other BSI officials and executives from MATAR Qatar Company for Airports Management and Operation.
This important achievement marks the State of Qatar as the first country in the world to be verified by BSI for its COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol Implementation. It is also a significant testament to the efforts implemented by Qatar’s gateway to the world, HIA, that helped successfully restore passenger confidence and boost air travel, even during the most turbulent of times.
Qatar’s airport has taken swift and comprehensive steps to curb the spread of COVID-19. The airport’s protocols and procedures have changed drastically to adapt to the different needs of passengers. Keeping every passenger journey in mind, HIA recently applied newly modified procedures for arriving passengers. The airport has customized its procedures based on the categorization of arriving passengers to ensure a smooth return to the country. Whether travellers are arriving, departing, or transferring through the five-star airport, their journeys have been designed to meet high levels of convenience and comfort. To ensure the health and wellbeing of its staff and passengers, HIA also introduced a series of unprecedented measures including the implementation of robotics and advanced thermal screening helmets.
Sparing no effort in safeguarding its passengers, HIA continues to maintain a 1.5m physical distancing across all passenger touchpoints around the airport, through floor markings, signage and distanced seating. All passenger touchpoints are sanitized every 10-15 minutes. All gates and bus gate counters are being cleaned after each flight. HIA’s retail and food and beverage outlets encourage contactless and cashless transactions through cards and are considering introducing online or in-app purchases in the future. The airport also conducts regular disinfection of all baggage trolleys and tubs
