Airlines work hard to protect customers’ health amid epidemic outbreak

Self check-in kiosks, which look like free-standing computer screens, are regularly disinfected. For Vietnam Airlines online check-in is applicable to passengers who have confirmed booking and valid e-tickets on flights operated by the national flag carrier departing from specific airports. The move will help passengers avoid a long queue that builds up in check-in areas of major airports, thereby ensuring social distancing measures. As a result, passengers will now be able to weigh their own luggage at the kiosks, enter the luggage information into the system, print the luggage tag, and then proceed to take their luggage to Vietnam Airlines’ reception desk (Photo: VietnamPlus)

 Staff members at airports, wearing face masks and gloves, clean check-in counters prior to serving passengers. Travel is said to increase chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 and airports are viewed a high-risk location. Vietnam has issued a temporary suspension of international flights since this March. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely dragged down revenue of the Vietnam Airlines Corporation (Vietnam Airlines) in the second quarter of this year. The national flag carrier reported 6 trillion VND (257.1 million USD) in second-quarter revenue, down nearly 70 percent from the previous quarter. The country fostered domestic tourism through the launch of various promotions, especially by air travel to mitigate losses of the aviation sector (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A staff member cleans aircraft’s inside before departure. Currently, Vietnam has five operational airlines. They are national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific Airlines (with a majority owned by Vietnam Airlines), Vietjet, Vietnam Air Services (VASCO) and Bamboo Airways. Vietnamese airlines are among many others around the world suffering heavy losses caused by COVID-19. The Ministry of Transport estimated that the initial damage due to stopping flights is about 30 trillion VND (1.3 billion USD). The Airports Corporation of Vietnam projected that the number of air passengers would fall by 41 percent year on year to 69.2 million in 2020 while the volume of cargo going through 21 airports across Vietnam would fall 13 percent to 1.34 million tonnes (Photo: VietnamPlus)

 Frequently touched cabin points, such as lock of overhead bins, are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. As the plane prepares for landing, overhead bins would also be locked by the flight deck, which would both serve to prevent passengers from getting up when they should not and deter them from attempting to grab their carry-on luggage during an emergency landing. Attempting to retrieve carry-on luggage in an emergency is a serious safety threat, and can take precious time off an evacuation time where literally every second counts. Bags slow people down and clog the exits, and they can even puncture an emergency slide (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Types of disinfectants are approved by aircraft manufacturers and health organisations. The aircraft manufacturers recommend the use of a 70 percent Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) as a disinfectant for the touch surface in the cockpit, cabin and cargo holds, stated the International Air Transport Association (IATA). For other surfaces, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO), cleaning and disinfection products shall have at least 60 percent alcohol to effectively destroy the virus. Guidelines for cleaning crew who have to clean an arriving aircraft with a suspected case of communicable disease have also been issued, especially in the context of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Headphones on airplanes are sterilised by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UVC, one of the three types of UV radiation, has the ability to kill germs and is an alternative to chemical disinfection. It can be used to sterilise objects, water, surfaces and materials. Several companies across the globe have developed an array of lamps, machines and even robots capable of sterilising a range of surfaces. Sharing earphones with others may also put the wearer at the risk of ear infections, and the UV sterilisation feature could also come in handy both in curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 and protecting users’ health (Photo: VietnamPlus)

 A health worker sprays disinfectants inside an airplane. According to the IATA, cleaning crew on duty must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) recommended by the national public health authority. PPE requires appropriate training before use. The crew need to remove and discard gloves if the pairs become soiled or damaged, and after cleaning. They are only allowed to use cleaning agents and disinfectants that have been approved by aircraft manufacturers at recommended concentrations and contact times. They need to wash their hands with soap and water immediately after removing PPE. An alcohol-based hand sanitiser may be used as an alternative if the hands are not visibly soiled (Photo: VietnamPlus)

 All places in the cabin are sprayed with disinfected to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. During flights of Vietnam’s airlines, strict security, safety and epidemiological measures are carried out implemented to ensure the health and safety for passengers, flight crews and the community as well as prevent the spread of diseases. Vietnam has to date recorded 672 COVID-19 infections, including 308 imported cases that were quarantined upon arrival, and 224 connected to the outbreak in central Da Nang city as from July 25. As many as 378 patients have given the all-clear so far and eight died (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Disinfected planes stay overnight at Noi Bai, Da Nang and Tan Son Nhat airports in the north, central and southern part of Vietnam, respectively. In May this year, Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi has made it into the world’s top 100 airport listing for the fifth consecutive year in 2020. The annual ranking was released by Skytrax, a UK-based consultancy that runs a yearly airline and airport review based on votes by international air travellers. Da Nang International Airport has also been named among the top 10 improved airports in the world by Skytrax. Earlier in August 2019, terminal T2 at Da Nang airport was recognised for four-starred services by the consultancy. Tan Son Nhat, the country’s largest and busiest airport, handled over 40 million passengers last year (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Flight attendants and passengers have to wear face mask during each flight. Travel is said to increase chance of getting and spreading COVID-19 while airports and airplanes are viewed a high-risk location. Amid complexities brought by the pandemic, domestic carriers continue to roll out various preventive measures in an effort to protect health of passenger, staffers and the community. Vietnam’s national tally now stands at 672, including 308 imported cases that were sent to concentrated quarantine facilities upon arrival, and 224 connected to the Da Nang outbreak as from July 25. As many as 378 patients have recovered so far and there have been eight fatalities (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In addition to masks, flight attendants wear gloves and glasses to protect themselves from being infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Vietnam reported two COVID-19 cases on August 5 morning, both linked to the Da Nang outbreak. With the latest update, Vietnam’s tally now stands at 672, including 308 imported cases that were quarantined upon arrival, and 224 connected to the Da Nang outbreak as from July 25. As many as 378 patients have recovered so far and eight died. There are still a number of patients in a critical condition and at high risk of losing their lives due to underlying health conditions and their old age (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Crew members discuss measures on serving passengers as well as how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in each flight. Given new developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic carriers continue to carry out a number of preventive measures in an effort to protect the health of passengers, staff and the community. For example, frequently touched cabin spaces, such as the cabin compartment lock, must be thoroughly disinfected. Meanwhile, cleaning crew on duty must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) recommended by the Ministry of Health. Guidelines for cleaning crew who have to clean arriving aircraft with a suspected case of communicable disease have also been issued (Photo: Vietnamplus)