Cleaning and Hygiene in the Air Transport Industry after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Bearing in mind the socio-economic consequences of COVID-19 on airports and passengers, this study considers cleaning and hygiene a top priority in airports and airlines’ operating processes. Both airport operators and passengers should be aware that the COVID-19 pathogen has not yet gone away and, thus, continues to spread despite mass vaccination. In this context, this paper’s objective is to show the importance of cleaning and hygiene in the air transport industry to encourage the passengers’ confidence in making decisions to travel on commercial airlines and help airport and airline operators make better decisions in their efforts to improve the cleaning and hygiene protocols. Passengers’ awareness of hygiene and cleanliness has increased, but unfortunately, airports and airlines have reduced cleaning and hygiene activities to save costs. Although there is much to do to help the aviation sector recover, we also see plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the air transport industry’s future, as long as airport and airline operators can guarantee an adequate quality of service with regard to cleaning and hygiene in order to ensure passengers’ safety and well-being. Airports and airlines cannot lower their guard because the SARS, H1N1, MERS, and COVID-19 viruses remain active in society.