Page 46 - World Airnews Magazine June 2020 Edition

AIRPORTS

BIOSECURITY STANDARDS KEY

TO AIR TRAVEL RECOVERY

ondon Heathrow airport chief execu-
Lti ve John Holland-Kaye has delivered

his key message to UK aviation club mem-
bers despite the corona virus lock down.
In a wide-ranging message to members, the
boss of the UK’s biggest airport said he believed
common rules around bio security standards at
airports will be key to restoring confidence in

and fuel the recovery of air travel.
”Whilst we are consumed by this crisis,
it is important that we think about how we
can accelerate the recovery and the critical

issue will be the re-opening of borders to
international travellers, without the need

for quarantine,” he said.

“The crisis came on so rapidly that each aviation sector and governments to define and curity, the test for whether someone is safe

country set its own health screening stan- agree a common bio security standard.” to fly should take place at the entrance to

dards, with little co-ordination. Rightly or Amid concerns raised about the lack of the airport or at airport security, so that we
wrongly, those that require temperature temperature testing at Heathrow, Hol- can minimise the need for social distancing

checks are perceived as being safer than land-Kaye has written to the UK’s public on the plane or at the gate,” he suggested.
others, such as the UK. health chief and called on the body to “If there is a common international stan-

“As we come out of this crisis, each coun- publish its findings that had concluded dard, we will know that any arriving pas-

try will be cautious about reopening their temperature checks are ineffective. senger will be low risk and we can minimise

borders to avoid the risk of re-infection. This, he said, would help reassure the pub- the need social distancing in immigration or

Until there is a cure or a vaccination, it is lic that measures at airports are ”scientifical- baggage reclaim also. We have made good

likely that travel between countries will only ly appropriate” and would help in estab- progress on automating the passenger jour-

happen if each considers the other to be low lishing common international measures on ney, but the final steps have been held up by

risk, and to have similar high standards. So future screening. Much of the talk around bureaucracy. Now is the time to push ahead

the aviation industry needs a common bio how air travel may be restored has included so that we minimise contact between avia-

security standard for air travel, just as there debate around airlines taking steps such as tion workers and passengers in check in, bag

is for airport security,” he said. leaving the middle seat of aircraft empty. drop, security, boarding and immigration.” Q

He argued the UK, as an island nation, In his message to the aviation club,
needs to be at the forefront of these efforts. Holland-Kaye argued this would just raise Article courtesy: https://www.flightglobal.

“Unless we can make it safe for people to the cost of travel for little safety gain, while com/networks/heathrow-chief-sees-
visit Britain, the UK economy will be held back. increasing a passenger’s carbon footprint. biosecurity-standards-key-to-air-travel-

Let’s work together with the international “Maybe it is better that, as with airport se- recovery/138136.article
NEWS
CONVENIENCE TO CARGO CUSTOMERS
up-to-date information and track their apps and messaging platforms users grows

shipment on messenger and telegram. globally, we will leverage our in-house digi-

thiopian Airlines has introduced a “As a customer-centric airline, we tal capabilities to further elevate customers’
Emobile app and chat bot-assisted always seek ways to better serve our experience by taking our digital service to

shipment tracking service to elevate customers and bring more digital options the platforms of their choice.”

cargo customers’ experience. to their fingertips,” said Miretab Teklaye, Users can download Ethiopian cargo

The mobile app, which is now available director group integrated marketing mobile app from Play Store and App Store

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venience to Ethiopian cargo and logistics “The newly unveiled cargo mobile app https://apple.co/3c1dg13.

services customers through a range of and chat bot-assisted cargo tracking service Telegram users can access Ethiopian
self-service features including checking will bring convenience for our customers Chatbot using @ethiopian_chat_bot

flight schedule, cargo tracking and charter allowing them to access real-time updates while Facebook/Messenger users can

requests at the swipe of a finger. The Ethio- about their shipments and to process their access it at https://www.facebook.com/

pian chat bot enables customers to access charter requests. As the number of mobile etchatbot/. Q
World Airnews | June 2020
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