Lt Col (Retd) Kevin Byrne, international aviation expert, and Past International President of CILT is Guest Speaker for CILT international webinar on Wednesday 15th July 2020.

1. ciltinternational.org1 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
The pandemic effects on the World’s Airports and the
likely Passenger Experience
Kevin Byrne, Lt Col (ret)
Airport Security & Safety Auditor
CILT Webinar

2. ciltinternational.org2 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
“The propensity to travel by air is directly related to the price of
the air ticket”
Prof Norman Ashford
Loughborough University of Technology, UK
1989

3. ciltinternational.org3 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
- There are well over 4,000 airports across the globe with scheduled traffic; to some extent, all of
them have been affected by the current pandemic
- Airports are critical in the air transport ecosystem and are essential to the economic development of
cities, countries, and regions. They contribute directly to the wider economy by providing services to
airlines, moving passengers, and transporting cargo. This global economic multiplier effect needs to
be safeguarded to help underpin recovery
- These generated revenues of $172.2 billion in 2017, while in 2019, total trips exceeded 9 billion
- Projected estimates for 2020 include a 50% drop in total passenger traffic (to 4.6 billion) with a drop
of nearly 57% in airport revenues (to $97.4 billion), compared to pre-COVID-19 forecasts
- Demand and capacity for air cargo fell in February 2020 as a result of COVID-19, even though rates
charged by airlines were much higher. Cargo revenues represent less than 10% of total revenues for
airports
Effects on Airports

4. ciltinternational.org4 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
- Passengers should arrive at the airport a maximum of 3 hours in advance of long haul and 2 hours
for short haul flights
- In many cases only travelling passengers will be permitted to enter airport terminals. This is the
existing case in many parts of the world but may be another surprise to travellers in Europe, North
America, Australia and parts of Asia.
- At all times in the airport, during boarding and on board, passengers will be required to wear a face
mask
- Passengers will pass through a fever detection scanner that looks similar to the metal detectors at
airport security
- Expect to see spacing stickers on the floor to help everyone maintain a safe distance in the queue
- All check-in desks have been fitted with protective antimicrobial screens
The Passenger Experience

5. ciltinternational.org5 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
- Airport front-line employees will wear personal protective equipment (PPE)
- There will be enhanced cleaning and sanitation
- We shall see additional hand sanitiser stations throughout airport facilities
- Airport-wide physical distancing for the protection of passenger will be implemented
- Airports in the many regions have also widely adopted temperature checks as a health screening
measure
- At the boarding gate, measures have been introduced to maintain social distancing in the seating
areas, and floor markings should promote social distancing in the queues prior to boarding
- Cleaning of the boarding gate areas is likely after boarding has been completed
At the Airport

6. ciltinternational.org6 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
- The cabin crew will be wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Contactless, cashless payment for Food & Beverages and product purchases onboard
- Embedded inflight entertainment (IFE) screens are easy to clean and sanitise; airlines likely to
encourage passengers to use their personal electronic devices (PEDs)
- Food service - serve packaged/sealed meals to minimise the use of unnecessary items (e.g. baskets,
cutlery)
- Printed materials such as magazines and menus to be removed to avoid potential cross-
contamination
On board the aircraft

7. ciltinternational.org7 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
- It is wise to accept that up to 10% of all passengers using an airport will be PRMs
- REGULATION (EC) No 1107/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 July
2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling
by air
- Other regions of the world have similar legislation, although application may be uneven
- PRMs may be affected disproportionally in the short term & discouraged from flying entirely
Passengers of Reduced Mobility

8. ciltinternational.org8 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
- The age of 25 minutes turn-arounds for low cost carriers is over; this has
implications for profitable aircraft utilisation
- The airport experience will affect the passenger Level of Service with less comfort
and more stress
- Less time for shopping or dining and potentially a more sterile feel to terminals
- On board the aircraft, the passenger experience may not be a very comfortable
one, particularly for long-haul flights
- Any price increases will decrease the incentive to fly, even for business
The Results

9. ciltinternational.org9 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
- Seamless Flow is a journey where the passenger self-processes seamlessly and non-stop across the
airport, in a paperless, contactless, hands-free manner, enduring no queues or long waits
- The key centrepieces are IoT-enabled, on-the-move passenger interaction points, the biometric
single token that unlocks transactions, access and services, and advanced mobile ID technology
- State Agencies (customs, immigration, health etc) will need to be fully involved and prepared to
participate in the new regimes
- The cost of flying will increase as all improvements will be included ultimately in the ticket price &
the price of fuel will increase in line with demand
- All governments need to assist the industry in re-establishing confidence in their local population
- “Customer care and compassion are the antidotes to fear” - Dr. Joe Leader, CEO, APEX/IFSA.
The Future?

10. ciltinternational.org10 Covid-19 Best Practice Response
And please remember:
The Future is Ours!
Thank You