In an effort to capture the joy and spirit of flight while ensuring safety for both travelers and airport employees, on Nov. 10 the Birmingham Airport Authority launched its "Let’s Go" campaign, which will run via social media through March. Geared toward those considering flying amid the pandemic – whether business or pleasure – the campaign will seek to ensure that while travelers’ journeys may look different, they can still expect an easy, convenient and safe experience at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM).
“We want travelers to know that we have prepared for their next journey so they can have peace of mind and feel the excitement in traveling again,” said Ronald F. Mathieu, Birmingham Airport Authority president and CEO. “By working together with our airline and airport partners, we have added multiple layers of protection for customers so they can feel confident and safe when they fly BHM.”
According to Mathieu, the safety and security of BHM passengers and employees is top priority, and management has taken – and will continue to take – precautions to protect travelers, guests and airport workers against the spread of COVID-19. Specific onsite protocol implemented includes:
Around-the-clock cleaning throughout the terminal with Environmental Protection Agency-approved cleaning solutions, ensuring high touch-point areas such as handrails, elevator buttons, and seating areas are properly cleansed.
- Deep cleanings and sanitation of the terminal each night with electrostatic spray technology
- Hand sanitizing stations throughout the terminal for both passengers and employees
- Acrylic shields at public counters
- Social distancing floor markers in passenger queuing areas
- Added information signage in the terminal with information on how to reduce the spread of illness
The "Let’s Go" campaign will highlight the joys of travel, whether domestically or internationally, with a reminder on flying safe.
“The safety of passengers and airport workers has been at the heart of everything BHM has done and continues to do to provide a safe environment for travel,” added Mathieu. “It’s time to fly, Birmingham, and we want you to know that BHM is ready for your journey.”
Since the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic, air carriers have been working closely with Congress, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop ways to combat the spread and to research the prevalence of spread in flight. Among key research findings include:
Air on commercial airplanes is safer than the air circulating in homes or hospital operating rooms, according to a recent study conducted for the U.S. Department of Defense.
The multiple layers of protection against transmission of COVID-19 used during air travel make being on an airplane safer than other routine activities, according to Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
The risk of a passenger contracting COVID-19 while onboard appears very low, according to the International Air Transport Association.
Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on flights, according to the CDC.
In addition to all that BHM is doing to ensure a safe environment for travel, those considering flight can be assured that the safety of passengers is also the top priority of all U.S. airlines. Airlines are following – or exceeding – all guidance from the CDC to help contain and stop the spread of COVID-19.
Airlines have added layers of protection to help protect passengers throughout their journey – from requiring facial coverings to enhancing cleaning protocols, such as electrostatic and fogging procedures. Some have implemented new boarding procedures and reduced beverage service to limit interaction, and most aircraft also have High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which generate air as clean as an ICU.
Additional safety measures and tips for travelers considering or scheduling flights can be found by visiting websites for the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration as well as Ready for Every Journey and Fly Healthy Fly Smart.
