Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport gains 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating
by Skytrax: London, UK
Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan is the fifth airport worldwide to be Certified with the highest 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating, by international air transport rating agency Skytrax. This Safety Accreditation is regarded as a global benchmark for defining safe travel assurance for customers.
The 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating is a top recognition of the effectiveness of the hygiene and safety measures introduced at Heydar Aliyev International Airport to protect their customers and staff against the spread of coronavirus.
The COVID-19 audit was conducted in March 2021 evaluating over 175 safety protocols introduced by Heydar Aliyev International Airport during COVID-19 to enhance customer and staff safety. The audit includes assessment of the airport’s implementation of health, hygiene and safety measures in accordance with the recommendations of the ICAO Council’s Aviation Recovery Task Force and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) Aviation Health Safety Protocol.
Heydar Aliyev International Airport is currently operating domestic flights, as well as international routes to cities in Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Dubai.
Mr. Jahangir Askerov, President of Azal, said: “Health and Safety of passengers and civil aviation staff is always our highest priority. Due to timely and preventive measures taken at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, we were able to create the appropriate infrastructure and restore operations of the airport terminal in the shortest possible time. I thank Skytrax for the airport safety rating and high assessment of the work we have done.”
The COVID-19 Safety Rating evaluates front-line airport facilities and service to determine how effectively and consistently COVID-19 procedures are being provided, with areas including terminal cleanliness, cleaning and disinfection procedures, standard and usage conformity of staff personal protective equipment, branding, standard and application of social distancing signage, floor markers and seat distancing, hand sanitiser facilities, airport PA guidance, organisation and control of passenger flows around the airport, security screening hygiene systems, general passenger facilities (eg. baggage trolleys) and control of social distancing and face mask usage.
Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “This highest COVID-19 Safety Rating for Heydar Aliyev International Airport provides a strong assurance to their customers of a safe travel experience, which is essential to restoring confidence in air travel. With all of the improvements introduced by the airport they are now providing the highest standards of hygiene and safety across the airport experience. Heydar Aliyev International Airport is providing a very well balanced portfolio of safety practices to reduce the risks related to the spread of COVID-19, and we congratulate them for achieving such a high standard of implementation and control.”
⦿ View the COVID-19 hygiene and safety protocols at Heydar Aliyev International Airport
COVID-19 Airport Safety Ratings place high importance on the implementation of face mask regulations and monitoring of social distance adherence amongst staff and customers, and how an airport applies these measures. Airport cleaning efficiency includes evaluation of cleaning systems and equipment, cleaning staff numbers, and if sanitisation is regularly validated using ATP testing.
Heydar Aliyev International Airport maintains stringent cleaning procedures in line with international standards. The airport continues to implement a 2m physical distancing across all passenger touchpoints around the airport, through floor markings, signage, and distanced seating.
A 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating recognises very high standards of airport cleanliness and maintenance procedures. Airports achieving 5-Star deliver many Best Practice systems of cleanliness and hygiene monitoring, and most importantly, these protocols are adhered to consistently. In addition to excellent visual cleanliness and terminal presentation standards, 5-Star COVID-19 Airports may use new techniques for UV sanitisation, and mass disinfectant treatments which are scientifically evaluated.
ABOUT HEYDAR ALIYEV INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, is one of the six international airports serving Azerbaijan. Today Heydar Aliyev International Airport is a big regional transportation hub, serving passengers and cargo flights flying around the world.
ABOUT SKYTRAX
Skytrax is the International air transport rating organisation established in 1989 and based in London, United Kingdom. In 2020, Skytrax launched the COVID-19 Safety Ratings covering airports across the world, providing independent, expert evaluation and certification of airport COVID-19 hygiene and safety measures. The Skytrax COVID-19 Safety Accreditation is regarded as a global benchmark for defining safe travel assurance for customers.
