BIA wins global health and safety accreditation

MANAMA: Bahrain International Airport (BIA) has become the latest in the Middle East to receive Airport Health Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) World. 

This recognition from the global aviation organisation acknowledges Bahrain Airport Company’s (BAC) achievements in safeguarding the well-being of passengers and staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ACI’s accreditation programme provides airports with an assessment of how aligned their health measures are with ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations, and industry best practices. Areas of assessment for accreditation include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing, staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and passenger facilities.

“This achievement does not belong to BAC alone but it is a stark recognition of the team efforts and dedication of all our partners at the airport,” BAC chief executive Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said.

“I would like to thank the National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 for its vital support in implementing BIA’s precautionary measures, Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs, our airline partners, our passengers for diligently following the regulations and for BAC team members for consistently upholding our high safety standards. By continuing to work together, we can ensure that travelling is recovered in a safe and confident manner.

“BAC took a proactive approach from the onset of the pandemic, introducing a range of precautionary measures to minimise the impact of the pandemic at airport facilities and protect public health,” Mr Al Binfalah said.

“These will remain in place at the new passenger terminal, enabling BAC to deliver and facilitate a hassle-free airport experience replete with comfort, connections and character. Some of the measures include frequently sterilising and disinfecting the airport, installing hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the terminal, enforcing social distancing and ensuring that personal protective equipment such as face masks and gloves are available for both passengers and staff alike.”

Mr Al Binfalah noted that the resumption and growth of passenger traffic are among BAC’s top priorities. He emphasised that this process has to be harmonised and carefully co-ordinated across various industry authorities. With a growing number of airports enrolling in the ACI World Airport Health Accreditation programme, the global aviation industry will be in a better position to recover faster, he added.

ACI World director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “To restore passengers’ trust in travel, we must achieve a harmonised approach to health measures across the globe. This is particularly important for airports that predominantly serve international traffic, like BIA, which is a formidable passenger and cargo transportation hub in the region and beyond. The Airport Health Accreditation shows travellers that BIA is part of a growing group of leading global airports that have put effective health measures in place.”

ACI represents the world’s airports and their collective interests. It promotes professional excellence in airport management and operations and works closely with prominent aviation organisations such as ICAO and the International Air Transport Association to develop standards, policies and recommended practices.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/896268/BIA-wins-global-health-and-safety-accreditation