Since the coronavirus pandemic took hold air travel looks and feels a lot different for those that are passing through airports this time. Each day brings new insight and knowledge about COVID-19 and how best to ensure the health and safety of everyone around the world. It is with this knowledge that since 2020, airports and airlines have been implementing best practices when it comes to cleaning, social distancing, and mask wearing.

Here at San Diego International Airport (SAN), we put together a “Let’s Go Safely” program that prioritizes the health and safety of passengers, employees and the community through a number of modifications and improvements at the airport. Those modifications and protocols include increased cleaning of high touch points, electrostatic spraying, signage on preventive health measures, floor decals and seat separation signage to queue six-foot social distance, hand sanitizer stations, Plexiglas sneeze guards in certain public spaces, and facial coverings required on all airport property.

With SAN passengers’ health and safety in mind, we submitted our Let’s Go Safety program details to Airports Council International (ACI) World’s Airport Health Accreditation program. The ACI Airport Health Accreditation is an assessment of how aligned our health measures are with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council Aviation Restart Task Force recommendations along with industry best practic

We voluntarily initiated the request to achieve accreditation by submitting a questionnaire and a cleaning and disinfecting plan that details the process in which SAN has addressed topics including cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing, staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications, and passenger facilities. Once submitted, the questionnaire was reviewed by ACI and accreditation was granted for a period of one year.

This accreditation provides SAN with third-party verification and recognition of professional excellence in maintaining safe, hygienic facilities and promoting best practices that align with efforts across the aviation industry. We are proud of our Operations team for achieving the accreditation and thankful for the many SAN employees and tenants that continue to make travel safe and pleasurable during this time.

For more information on ACI Airport Health Accreditation program, click here. To learn more about what SAN is doing to keep travelers safe, visit san.org/gosafely.