Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, passengers started to have concerns about safety on board.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that “because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights”.
In its guidance on air travel, the CDC also said, however, that “there may be a risk of getting COVID-19 on crowded flights if there are other travelers on board with COVID-19”.
That has prompted airports worldwide to apply strict precautionary measures to avoid spreading the virus.
But what are airports in the Middle East in particular doing to make the travel experience safer?
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) data showed that January 2020 air passenger traffic in the Middle East was down 82.3% compared to January 2019.
“This is a unique situation. But we have good practices to rely on. Safety is the top priority for anything associated with aviation,” Kamil Al Awadhi, IATA Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said in a statement on the body’s website.
UAE
In the UAE, Abu Dhabi Airport has launched a new immediate PCR examination laboratory, the first of its kind inside airports in the region, to quickly test passengers for Covid-19.
The new service comes in order to resume operating flights, facilitate quarantine procedures and trace those infected with the virus.
Dubai airport also uses thermal surveillance cameras to identify people who may have coronavirus. Thermal cameras are believed to help identify the coronavirus carriers by detecting people with high temperature as they walk through the airport.
Egypt
In Egypt, Cairo airport has also installed new devices called “IDnow '' to prevent the spread of coronavirus among passengers.
The devices can detect infection within 5 minutes and confirm the absence of infection in 13 minutes through a medical technique that uses DNA similar to the coronavirus, which is SARS COVID-2.
Examination of passengers through the new devices comes in parallel to obliging passengers to carry a PCR test with a negative result before arriving at the airport.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia launched an app to reduce the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country and obliged passengers to download it to keep themselves safe inside airports and on board.
The app’s services covers health, education, hajj and umrah, permits, previews of driving licenses, insurance, passports, among other services.
Through the app, citizens can get warnings about isolated or affected areas due to the outbreak of the coronavirus and the necessary medical assistance can be obtained for any suspected case.
Saudi Arabia said that the app is a prerequisite for travelers to enter domestic and international airports.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia said, entry to airports will only be permitted through using the app via three screening areas upon entry to the airport, including workers, travelers, employees and all airport visitors, as well as at the check-in area and issuance of boarding passes, and at the aircraft entry area.
Saudi officials announced that passenger travel data will be linked to the health status of the traveler through the app.
Qatar
In Qatar, Hamad International Airport is offering a unique no-touch travel experience.
At the airport, passengers can get protective gear, including face masks, gloves, hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes through self-vending machines.
Travelers experience a technology that supports facial recognition which guarantees a safe and contactless journey.
The technology relies on combining traveler flight information, passport and biometric facial information into a "single travel code" prepared by a self-registration kiosk.
Passengers can use check-in kiosks to take their photos and scan passports and boarding passes, as this digital ID record is the passenger's face and the key to their transit through major airport contact points, such as self-service bag delivery, pre-passport and self-boarding gates.
Bahrain
Bahraini also began testing the IATA health passport on its flights to London, Athens and Singapore, starting May 7.
Travelers with a biometric passport, bound for London, Athens and Singapore, were able to try the app that helps them manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or any information about the vaccine.
Gulf Air passengers are now able to create a "digital passport" that allows them to match their travel routes with the coronavirus health requirements at their destinations, and verify their compliance with them.
Bahrain is one of the first governments to participate in the IATA health passport experiment with its national carrier, "to help pave the way for re-establishing global communication with coronavirus risk management."
