Avelo Airlines Partners with Aero HygenX to Deploy Autonomous Ultraviolet Disinfection Robots to Combat COVID-19

March 3, 2022
The Aero HygenX RAY robot is a compact, lightweight and autonomous device which uses motion-sensing technology to navigate interior spaces — disinfecting surfaces quickly and safely using UVC light.

HOUSTON and OTTAWA; March 3, 2022 — Avelo Airlines, America's newest airline, today announced an innovative partnership with Ottawa-based Aero HygenX to deploy leading-edge autonomous ultraviolet light (UVC) robots to disinfect its aircraft fleet to combat COVID-19. Aero HygenX is the pioneer in autonomous UVC disinfection technology for the transportation industry.

The Aero HygenX RAY robot is a compact, lightweight, and autonomous device which uses motion-sensing technology to navigate interior spaces — disinfecting surfaces quickly and safely using UVC light. RAY is a sustainable alternative to harmful chemicals which can damage aircraft interiors, and is emissions-free.

Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy said, “We are excited to be on the leading edge of helping prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses among the flying public. The safety and wellbeing of our Customers and Crewmembers is our top priority. Our partnership with Aero HygenX bolsters this commitment with the use of their innovative disinfection technology on our aircraft and at our bases. RAY is a safer, faster, more cost-effective and more sustainable solution than the conventional chemical-based manual disinfection process used by most other airlines.”

Avelo uses the RAY robots as part of its daily disinfection of its six Boeing Next-Generation (NG) 737 aircraft. Additionally, RAY is used to disinfect Avelo’s Crewmember (employee) workspaces at the airline’s West Coast base at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and its East Coast base at Southern Connecticut’s Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN). The aircraft and airport disinfection routine occurs every evening following the completion of each day’s flight operations.

Aero HygenX CEO Arash Mahin added, “We couldn’t be more excited to announce that America’s newest airline is using RAY. Avelo’s partnership with Aero HygenX will enhance its aircraft and airport disinfection regiment, and exemplifies the airline’s commitment to safety, reliability and innovation. We look forward to growing with Avelo as they add aircraft, bases, Customers and Crewmembers in the future.” 

A Game-Changing Solution

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines around the world have implemented enhanced cleaning procedures involving more frequent and deeper disinfection of aircraft. In most cases, these more stringent hygienic measures have necessitated the manual application of harsh chemical disinfectants and have prolonged the sanitization process. Additional disadvantages of chemical-based disinfection include the creation of surplus hazardous waste and the degradation of aircraft interior finishes.

UVC technology has a long and proven history of safely disinfecting surfaces, air and water in many other industries and is used by the healthcare, food / beverage and hospitality sectors. It is a fast and sustainable alternative to chemical-based disinfection. Aero HygenX is the first company to incorporate UVC disinfection technology into an autonomous robot solution for the transportation industry.

Avelo’s head of safety, security and operational excellence Michael Quiello said, “There is nothing else out there like RAY and we are proud to be utilizing this breakthrough disinfection technology. RAY robots deliver UVC light that destroys virtually 100% of pathogens – including the COVID-19 virus. RAY exemplifies how Avelo is taking the lead using more effective non-traditional advanced technology.”

RAY’s light-emitting technology safely destroys up to 99.9% of harmful pathogens in the air and on the surfaces of Avelo’s aircraft cabins, galleys, lavatories, and flight decks – as well as in workspaces at the airline’s BUR and HVN bases. RAY is connected to HygenXStream, a real-time digital platform which enables Avelo to monitor the health of RAY and gain access to valuable metrics that can assist with decision making for its operations, and the time it takes to complete the disinfection of Avelo’s fleet has been significantly reduced.