Emirates redefining safety standards for travelers

26th May 2020

Despite the tragedy unfolding around the globe with entire countries closed to the outside world, travel is slowly beginning to resume. “The travel experience will look and feel different upon reopening and airlines are adopting strategies to ensure traveler confidence,” said Tim Davey, Managing Director of Global Marine Travel. One such forward-thinking airline is Emirates Airlines.

For the travel & tourism industry to make a comeback, travelers will need to feel safe and confident that their health is protected every step of the way. Emirates have already begun by defining their own health and safety measures for employee and customer care on board and on the ground.

“Emirates is implementing a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the traveler’s journey, to enhance the sanitization of all touchpoints, and ensure the health and safety of our customers and employees. The risk of catching an infection on an aircraft is already very low, but we have spared no effort in reviewing and redesigning every step, from check-in to disembarkation. Every measure implemented is an additional reduction in risk, and taken altogether, our aim is really to make flying as safe as possible,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer.

Outlined in a recent news release from Emirates to their valued travel partners, here are five main areas where Emirates is beginning to make fundamental changes to restore traveler confidence:

Check-in

• Complimentary hygiene kits to be given to every passenger upon check-in at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and on flights to Dubai comprised of masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes, and hand sanitiser.
• Gloves and masks are mandatory for all customers and employees at the airport in Dubai, while only masks are mandated on Emirates flights.
• On arrival at the airport, thermal scanners at various areas monitor the temperatures of all passengers and employees.
• Physical distancing indicators have been placed on the ground and at waiting areas to help travellers maintain the necessary distance at check-in, immigration, boarding and transfer areas.
• The airport team has also installed protective barriers at each check-in desk and immigration counter to provide additional safety reassurance to passengers and employees during interactions over the counter.

Transit passengers

• Customers travelling through DXB and transferring onto another flight will go through thermal screening upon disembarkation.
• Transfer desks at the airport have also been installed with protective barriers.
• Airport staff dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) will direct customers from a safe distance for extra assistance.
• Customers will be given an additional hygiene kit at the gate before boarding their connecting flight.

Boarding

• The boarding sequence has been staggered and passengers board by row, from the last row to the first, in small numbers.
• The waiting area has been modified to ensure all customers observe social distancing.
• Emirates boarding agents, dressed in PPE, will facilitate the boarding sequence.
• The boarding gates are deep cleaned and disinfected after the boarding of every flight.

Onboard

• All cabin crew on board will be fully outfitted in PPEs.
• On flights over 1.5 hours, Emirates has added a cabin service assistant (CSA) to the crew complement. The CSAs will ensure lavatories are cleaned at frequent intervals of every 45 mins. Each lavatory has been equipped with sanitising soap and hand washing instructions.
• To minimise the risk of infection by touch, magazines and print reading material will not be available during this time.
• In premium classes, single-use menus and wine lists will be provided to passengers. Comfort items such as mattresses, pillows, blankets, headphones, and toys will be hygienically sealed.
• Emirates will resume its service with hot meals, using high quality, cutlery and crockery, sterilised before each use.
• Cabin baggage must be checked-in, and customers can only bring essential items such as a laptop, handbag, briefcase or baby items on board. Customers are reminded to bring pens to fill out Health Declaration Forms required for some destinations.
• Emirates’ modern aircraft cabins have been fitted with advanced HEPA air filters which remove 99.97% of viruses and eliminate dust, allergens, and germs from cabin air.
• After its journey and on landing in Dubai, each aircraft will go through enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes to ensure safety and proper sanitation.

Emirates crew

• To safeguard its employees, Emirates’ flight and cabin crew are provided with cars for pick up and drop off at their home at the beginning and end of their duty.
• Operating crew check-in for their rostered flights in a dedicated crew airport facility before being transported to the aircraft.
• Layovers in destination cities have been reduced where possible and on long-haul flights, where layovers are necessary, the crew are put up in individual hotel rooms.
• On return to Dubai, where all Emirates cabin crew are based, COVID-19 tests are done on all crew.
• Every crew member has been mandated a 14-day quarantine in their homes after every flight unless they are on duty.

As a whole, the airlines, travel companies and the global tourism sector have faced an unprecedented amount of challenges as the pandemic upended global travel and brought the world to a shocking standstill. However, there is no better time to redefine what travel looks like to ensure a full industry recovery and GMT will be here for our customers every step of the way.