Kolkata, Chandigarh and Pune airports the safest in Asia-Pacific region; authorities continue the quest for hygiene

Wiping surfaces once every five minutes and complete contactless passage of a passenger from entry to boarding earned the airports of Kolkata, Chandigarh and Pune the label of the ‘best airports in terms of hygiene measures’ in the Asia-Pacific region.

Authorities of the airports said they are continuing with the measures in order to ensure a hassle-free journey for passengers even as the country is going through a resurgence of fresh COVID infections.

Kaushik Bhattacharya, director of Kolkata airport, said there has been no let up in the hygiene protocols that they followed round the clock since airports resumed operations in June 2020 after a lockdown period of almost 100 days.

“It was a great feeling to be among the most hygiene-conscious establishments in the entire Asia-Pacific region. However, it was due to the untiring efforts of all our employees,” said Bhattacharya.

Pune airport director Ajay Bhardwaj said they are following all the protocols to the minutest detail so that there is no slippage on service.

A second wave of COVID infections is apparent in the country with the number of infections reaching around 60,000 which is almost the same level as September-October last year.

Incidentally, the selection of the best performing airports was done by Airports Council International, an organisation based in Montreal, Canada.

Kolkata airport scored almost a perfect figure – 4.99 out of 5.00.

The three Indian airports got the honours in the mid-sized airports category.

Kallol Dasgupta, a passenger who makes regular trips between Kolkata, Mumbai and Indore, said the degree of strictness with which hygiene standards are enforced in Kolkata airport was extremely high and any deviation earns quick disapproval from the staff.

While contactless protocols are being maintained by all airports, officials at Pune and Kolkata airports said that efforts to constantly clean different surfaces including the toilets make a difference.

At all the food and beverage counters and retail outlets inside the terminal building, digital payments have been introduced and constantly enforced.

The physical distancing norms have been strictly followed at all times, said airport officials.

Before any passenger is being permitted into the terminal building, the baggage is being sanitised.

The survey measures the satisfaction of passengers on 34 parameters while they pass through an airport. However, in the post-COVID era the parameter of hygiene has emerged as the most crucial one.

This year more than 400 airports in 95 countries participated in the survey.