The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced on 23 November 2020 that John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, New York Stewart and Teterboro Airports have been awarded the Airport Health Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) World and ACI Americas. The new Airport Health Accreditation program assesses new health and safety measures and procedures introduced at airports worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been recognized by the ACI Airport Health Accreditation for its work to maintain a safe environment for airport passengers through aggressive cleaning and disinfection programs, physical distancing (where feasible and practical), staff protection, physical layout adjustments, and passenger communications, as well as the swift response to the COVID-19 crisis given by the Port Authority.
Among the factors and locations considered in the ACI health accreditation assessment were terminal access, check-in areas, security screening and boarding gates, lounges, retail outlets, food and beverage locations, boarding bridges, escalators and elevators, and the baggage claim areas and arrivals exit.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said:
“This important acknowledgement shows that the work we’ve done to keep our airport customers safe during the pandemic is paying off. Our mission to ensure that the traveling public remains safe and secure while using our airports – or any Port Authority facility – is constant.”
Through unified recovery efforts, the Port Authority and its partner airlines and terminal operators have implemented leading-edge capabilities across its airports under four core principles: maximize hygiene, minimize contact, minimize access, and minimize dwell.
“The safety of the traveling public is the Port Authority’s top priority,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “The ACI’s recognition confirms that our agency is practicing what it preaches, with a commitment to keeping our airports clean, sanitized, and capable of helping passengers to socially distance effectively.”
The Port Authority has produced a video to showcase the safety measures designed to streamline the entire airport journey and keep customers and employees safe. It has also implemented a mask distribution program at JFK, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia, scheduled to run through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
The public awareness campaign highlights the extensive steps the Port Authority has taken to ensure its customers and employees stay safe and healthy when traveling through and working at PA airports. Other measures, such as contactless technologies, personal protective equipment (PPE) vending machines, are also featured.
Airports Council International & the New Airport Health Program
Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, customer-centric and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2020, ACI serves 668 members, operating 1,979 airports in 176 countries.
ACI’s new airport health program assesses health measures and industry best practices implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ACI’s Aviation Business Restart and Recovery Guidelines, ICAO’s Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) Recommendations, and ACI Europe Guidelines for Healthy Passenger Experience at Airports (EASA).
Image Credit: The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
