QA becomes first global carrier to operate Honeywell’s UV Cabin Cleaning technology

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar Airways (QA) has implemented a series of measures to ensure the safety of its passengers and staff.

Earlier in July, the airline began offering new personal protective equipment (PPE) to customers and cabin crew.

Among other measures, the airline started giving face shields to all passengers, in addition to providing cabin crew with disposable protective gowns (fitted over uniforms), safety glasses, gloves and masks.

Complimentary protective kits have been offered to onboard passengers including a ziplock pouch, a single-use facemask, large disposable powder-free gloves and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel.

Now, QA is utilizing high-level technology in a bid to further advance its hygiene measures.

In a press statement, the airline announced that it has become the first global carrier to operate Honeywell’s Ultraviolet (UV) Cabin System.

UV light is capable of inactivating various viruses and bacteria when properly applied.

Approximately the size of a beverage cart, the Honeywell UV Cabin System, which is operated by Qatar Aviation Services (QAS), has extendable UV arms that treat aircraft seats, surfaces, and cabins without using cleaning chemicals.

#QatarAirways has become the first global carrier to operate the @Honeywell_Aero Ultraviolet Cabin System, further enhancing our onboard safety and hygiene measures for passengers.

Read more at https://t.co/M7qhJqZDCg. #RelyOnUs #QatarAirways pic.twitter.com/G92OGD9Gtu

— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) September 28, 2020

Having already received six of the Honeywell UV Cabin System, the devices have undergone comprehensive testing onboard QA aircraft, before being put to use.

QA aims to acquire additional units in the near future, to operate them onboard all aircraft turnarounds at Hamad International Airport (HIA).

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, commented, “During these unprecedented times, the health and safety of our crew and passengers continues to be of the utmost importance. Since the start of the pandemic, we have been regularly introducing new and effective safety and hygiene measures onboard our aircraft, based on our unparalleled expertise of flying consistently throughout.”

Honeywell Aerospace President EMEAI, Mr. James Currier, said, “Honeywell has technology today that can make air travel safer – from the traveler to the airport worker, throughout the airport and onboard the aircraft.”

QA aircraft will continue to be regularly disinfected using cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Honeywell UV Cabin System will be utilized as an additional step after manual disinfection, to ensure the very highest standards of cleanliness, the airline said.

This adds to the series of ongoing hygiene measures such as washing, drying, and pressing onboard linen and blankets at microbial lethal temperatures, while its headsets are rigorously sanitized after each flight.

These items are then sealed into individual packaging by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves.

QA aircraft also feature the most advanced air filtration systems, equipped with industrial-size HEPA filters that remove 99.97% of viral and bacterial contaminants from re-circulated air, providing the most effective protection against infection.

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Cover Image Credit and Source: Qatar Airways