Airports Council International (ACI) has certified O. R Tambo International Airport under its Airport Health Accreditation programme (AHA) for its continued application of health and safety protocols which meet local regulations and global standards.
The accreditation covers an airport's adherence to best practice in cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing, staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and passenger facilities.
The ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation Programme was developed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic to provide airports with an assessment of how their measures align with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and the ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force recommendations along with other industry best practices.
All passenger areas and processes are considered in the accreditation process including terminal access, airline check-in areas, passenger security screening, boarding gates, lounges, retail, food and beverages, passenger loading bridges, escalators and elevators, immigration control areas and facilities, baggage drop off and reclaim areas.
Bongiwe Pityi-Vokwana, general manager of O. R Tambo International Airport says: "The ACI AHA programme enables airports to demonstrate to passengers, staff, regulators, and governments that we are prioritising health and safety in a coherent and measurable manner.
“While there have been setbacks across the world in combating Covid-19, it remains critical that airports continue to demonstrate to passengers, airlines and governments that we provide a safe environment."
Restoring passenger confidence in air travel
Pityi-Vokwana says that airports remain vital cogs in the aviation ecosystem and that the Airport Health Accreditation programme will help to restore passenger confidence in air travel.
"As important engines of growth, wealth creation, and employment, the recovery of the airport sector will be a significant enabler of economic recovery. Key to this recovery will be reassuring the travelling public that airports are prioritising health and safety and providing safe and hygienic facilities.
"We are most pleased to receive this accreditation which not only recognises our adherence to international best practice but which also provides the levels of passenger confidence that will support recovery in the aviation sector," says Pityi-Vokwana.
