Measures to Protect the Health of Air Travelers and Aviation Personnel

1. Countermeasures at Airports

1.1. Passenger Protection

 Since December, 2019, in cooperation with the quarantine office, all aircraft arriving from Wuhan were assigned to designated quarantine gates to separate the CIQ area for flights from Wuhan from other flights.

 When the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was identified in Korea, Incheon Airport activated its Emergency Response Headquarters, to proactively implement measures to prevent the virus spread.

 Incheon Airport responded swiftly by holding weekly COVID-19 response meetings and site inspections on a company-wide basis.

1.1.1. Stricter disinfection control

 The arrival and departure halls of Incheon Airport are disinfected three times more frequently than usual by dispatching the entire airport cleaning staff of 1,200 workers.

 Upon arrival, international travelers are kept separate from other passengers. After going through immigration, they are constantly disinfected as they pass through the arrival walkway.

 Benches, elevators, handrails of moving walkways, bathrooms and drinking fountains in public areas are disinfected three times a day.

 Handles of facilities for persons who are at higher risk of severe illness, such as baby strollers, wheelchairs and electric carts, are inspected and disinfected four times a day.

 When signs of COVID-19 are detected in a passenger, all pathways the passenger walked through and the gate used by the ambulance that carried the passenger are immediately disinfected.

1.1.2. Fever check

 Passengers departing from the airport go through a three-step fever check until they board the aircraft. (Step 1) (Step 2) (Step 3) Terminal entry Departure area Boarding gate Fever check/disinfection Fever check (by military Fever check (by airlines) (by Airport Corporation) personnel)

1.1.3. Other measures

 All daily cultural events and performances have been canceled and public facilities such as shower rooms, fitness centers, nursing rooms and indoor playgrounds are closed.

 Hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed in terminal arrival and departure areas, information desks, shuttle-train platforms, the entrance of the transportation center and areas where passengers fill out customs declaration forms.

1.1.4. Public promotion

 The airport has made announcements in passenger terminals and has set up banners in arrival and departure halls to inform passengers on how to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases.

 COVID-19 prevention posters have been put up in airport shuttle buses and airport express trains and promotional efforts have been made through the airport website, social media, smart digital signage and elevator displays.

1.2. Airport Staff Protection

1.2.1. Handing out protective equipment

 Since January 24, at the beginning of the outbreak, Incheon Airport handed out protective gear such as face masks to airport staff who could not find enough personal protective equipment.

 Beginning on January 27, Incheon Airport has fully-financed face masks, hand sanitizers and protective gloves for partner companies and subsidiaries to prepare for a possible prolonged pandemic.

 Since January 27, airport staff members who interact with passengers have been required to wear face masks. The airport checks if staff are following this rule.

1.2.2. Personnel management

 Among employees who interact with customers, expectant mothers and senior staff members who are more vulnerable to the disease than others have been transferred to departments with minimal encounter with passengers.

 Employees of Airport Corporation, partner companies and duty free stores who work at the airport have been instructed to use only designated paths and facilities to minimize contact with incoming international travelers.

 Twelve thermal imaging cameras have been installed in the designated paths for employees to monitor their body temperature. These employees had their body temperature checked at their working spaces once a day since January 31.

 Incheon Airport is participating in social distancing by allowing flexible working hours for staff to commute at different times and asking teams to set a different lunch time for each of its members. The airport is also limiting social events and gatherings.

 Employees are advised to minimize domestic and international travel and business trips and 30% of employees are required to work from home.

2. Countermeasures by Airlines

2.1. Passenger Transport

2.1.1. Personnel management

 Announcements on personal hygiene, passenger screening procedures, how to properly wear a face mask, and the importance of sanitation control are constantly made to staff members.

 Procedures are regularly updated to reflect the recent guidelines for suspected cases issued by relevant authorities. Offline briefings are replaced with online meetings. On-site workers have their temperature checked before and after work.

2.1.2. Disinfection equipment

 Protective equipment like face masks and protective gloves as well as tools for temperature check are provided for airport staff members including employees of subcontractors.

 Thermal imaging cameras and contactless thermometers are provided for mandatory temperature checks on all passengers before boarding.

2.1.3. US-bound flights

 Airline staff members conduct temperature checks on all passengers at check-in counters and boarding gates and follow TSA directives.

 Since March 11, when health screening was conducted on all US-bound passengers, security procedures following TSA directives including temperature checks and questioning of health conditions have been applied.

2.1.4. Non US-bound flights

 Cutting-edge thermal imaging cameras and contactless thermometers are used to check the temperature of all outbound travelers taking flights departing from Incheon International Airport before boarding.

 Passengers with suspected symptoms such as body temperature over 37.5 ℃ cannot board the aircraft and are put under the care of their local government and health centers.

2.1.5. Seat assignment

 Airlines assign seats so that passengers can keep a distance from one other.

 Inbound passengers from foreign countries taking flights to Jeju Island are assigned seats in the front or at the back of the aircraft to separate them from other passengers. (Two seats in every direction surrounding a passenger suspected with COVID-19 infection are emptied.)

2.1.6. Airport lounges

 Domestic lounges are regularly disinfected once a week. When a confirmed case occurs, lounges are disinfected in accordance with relevant guidelines issued by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

2.1.7. Special charter flight operations

 Air crew volunteering to work for special charter flights are required to wear protective clothing and equipment. Passengers are all required to wear face masks.

 Passengers are seated keeping distance from other passengers. Symptomatic passengers sit in a designated area isolated by curtains.

2.2. Cabin

2.2.1. Procedures to follow in cabin

 A crew member who has had close contact with a suspected or confirmed passenger goes into self-quarantine and is monitored by the airline. Cabin crew members check the passenger announcement and quarantine procedures required by each destination country and follow the requirements.

 Cabin crew are instructed to be well-acquainted with the response procedure and checklist (guidelines by the aviation medical center) to follow when a passenger is suspected to have symptoms, while following in-flight service procedures designed to minimize contact with/between passengers.

2.2.2. Protective gear

 Face masks are handed out to each crew member (one per person for domestic/short-haul routes, two per person for mid- and long-haul routes) for them to wear face masks and gloves during commuting hours and at all places.

 Disposable nitrile gloves are provided for air crew on duty (100 gloves per person).

 Simple face masks are loaded on planes for all routes (50 masks). N95 masks are loaded on planes to be used when a suspected case has been detected (25 masks). Hand sanitizers are placed in every aircraft for all routes (one sanitizer per galley).

2.2.3. Other measures

 All cabin crew must have their temperature checked before duty. Briefings are done in the front of aircraft. All kinds of collective training required by law are temporarily suspended.

2.3. Aircraft Maintenance

2.3.1. Stricter aircraft disinfection control

 All aircraft are disinfected once a week.

2.3.2. Masks for cabin maintenance crew

 KF94 masks are provided for cabin maintenance crew. Other maintenance service workers are provided with KF80-level masks.

2.3.3. Fever check

 Fever check is conducted on all employees and anyone who shows fever is off duty. Shift workers are sent home earlier than usual to minimize contact between day shift and night shift workers.

 Spaces in containers or buses are temporarily used as waiting rooms to minimize contact between maintenance crew.

2.4. Personnel Management

2.4.1. Announcements to staff

 All employees are notified of infection prevention guidelines and response procedures to follow when COVID-19 related symptoms occur as well as actions to take when a suspected case is detected on board or in airports.

2.4.2. Health management

 Infection prevention products such as medical masks and hand sanitizers are provided for cabin crew and employees working in airports.

 All employees have their temperature checked and health condition monitored before starting duty. Briefing rooms and offices in Incheon Airport are disinfected.

 As screening has tightened for Korea-departed flights, English health certificates are issued for cabin crew to carry.