future of inflight catering The new normal

30 travel HYGIENE

The new normal

Hygiene has moved to the top of the agenda for travellers. Jo Austin discovers how airlines and suppliers are cleaning up their act

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on global aviation, rail and cruise sectors, and all are working to discover a ‘new normal’ post-pandemic. The strongest focus for both operators and suppliers has been on passenger hygiene and safety from disease risk. These priorities are now at the heart of every element of the passenger journey.

The global advice on social distancing has been the biggest practical challenge, and while leaving one seat or even a row empty between passengers may be possible in times of low demand, it is clearly not financially sustainable in the longer run when, according to IATA, load factors need to average 77 per cent for airlines to break even.

Aircraft interiors specialists have scrambled to find new seating configurations and barrier shields that might help, but ultimately the likes of IATA, APEX and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) seemed to agree it was guidelines around the mandatory use of facemasks for passengers and crew which were

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the most realistic and helpful. Many international and airport bodies have also been working on new health protocols and certifications which could help ensure sick people don’t get onboard, but APEX’s own research has shown that key to passenger confidence is clear communication and visible evidence of hygiene measures, and the commitments airlines make on this.

Airlines were keen to be ready for travel bans to lift and services to resume, and made speedy investment in new ways of working. New hygiene measures and crew protocols have become the norm and wellbeing/safe travel programmes have been launched and widely circulate to spur confidence building. Comprehensive video footage was created to show the deep cleaning of aircraft in minute detail, although there has in fact been no conclusive evidence to date that anyone has ever actually contracted COVID19 during a flight. HEPA filters which filter air circulated vertically rather than horizontally help suppress potential spread and have been shown to be over 99.7% effective according to most studies around virus transmission.

Inset from left: The 'new normal' masked and socially-distanced passenger journey has begun to take shape

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But perceptions matter, so complimentary hygiene kits including face masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser have become the order of the day, and full Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) has become standard for cabin crew.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ ceo, said: “The risk of catching an infection on an aircraft is already very low, but we have spared no effort in reviewing and redesigning every step, from check-in to disembarkation”.

While in the U.S., United ceo, Scott Kirby added: “Safety has always been our top priority, and right now it’s our singular customer focus. We recognise that COVID-19 has brought cleanliness and hygiene standards to the front of customers’ minds when making travel decisions, and we’re increased hygiene regimes, Akira Mitsumasu, not leaving a single stone unturned in our vp global marketing at Japan Airlines, said: pursuit to better protect our customers and “Turnaround time is the major challenge as it our employees.” is extremely difficult to change departure and

Calin Rovinescu, president landing slots at airports so and ceo at Air Canada we have to ensure a plane is added: “We intend to totally clean in a restricted continue enhancing with We are determined that timespan. We can control best practices from around the world, including increased use of screening tools, such as blood oxygen aviation will not be a significant source of re-infection what is done at our own hub airports but it is not so easy to control overseas ground cleaning companies. level testing, as they become Inflight cleanliness can be a available.” combination of what airlines do themselves and

In Asia, where face masks were already widely what they can ask passengers to do.” used, experience from past pandemics ensured The hygiene challenge also revealed the need fast action and greater confidence, and flights for airlines and airports to collaborate more than began to restart here soonest. Regarding ever across the passenger journey. Airports have stepped up their hygiene initiatives with many in Europe signing the COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocol published by EASA. The Safely Restarting Aviation – ACI and IATA Joint Approach paper – also combined airline and airport input to build a roadmap for resuming operations, and built on the work of the COVID-19 Aviation Recovery Task Force, led by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which tried to bring government bodies and industry together. IATA’s director general and ceo, Alexandre de Juniac, said: “We are determined that aviation will not be a significant source of re-infection. We are working continuously with governments to ensure that any measures put in place are done so consistently and with scientific

Below: Freshorize Safe Travels kits help clean up the journey Above: Albéa's flexible Stay Safe Kit

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Above from left:

Emirates added hygiene safety all along its passenger experience; Kaelis launched its SP.3 branded kits Below: The Protect Aid Amenity Kit was designed for travel retail

backing. That is the key to restoring public changes already being planned. confidence so the benefits of safely re-starting With this in mind, Yates+ has partnered with aviation can be realised.” Neoma, the AI hospitality systems specialist, to

Istanbul Airport was among the first to use launch trials of an AI-driven app designed to thermal screening of present the 'next normal' passengers and employ airport experience. A fully a dedicated hygiene contactless experience, the team to ensure that The shutdown offered SafeGo app, is being trialled passengers follow strict some time to in a Middle Eastern airport social distancing measures. The team wear screening helmets with thermo-scan implement tech changes many have been and uses high intensity camera facial bio-screening at every point of contact. The sensors to scan passengers proposing for years app means no paper ticket, as they enter the airport no baggage tags, no human or wait in line. Only people with a valid ticket contact required at any point from airport curb are allowed to enter the airport, all passengers to aircraft door. are required to wear face masks, and hand Yates+ ceo Keith Yates said: “We recognise sanitiser is provided at more than a seismic shift in customer sentiment. Safety 500 locations. Numbers allowed of self and family is now the dominant theme. into toilets are restricted to avoid Safety translates to a desire for no face to face crowding and ultra-violet based human contact on the airport journey. So we set tunnels now disinfect airport about digitalising the airport experience, building security trays and baggage. in the most advanced AI technology plus an app Touchless technology is seen managing the journey coupled with the latest as critical and the hygienic camera bio-match technology to secure the requirements of the pandemic customer at each connecting point.” may in fact help to accelerate the Solutions are also being identified and roll out of touchless innovations championed through the post-COVID-19 that already exist and could Passenger Experience Think Tank made up in many ways enhance the of airlines, airports, the Airline Passenger passenger journey, making transit Experience Association (APEX) and members of through the airport smoother. the FTE Innovation & Startup Hub. The shutdown has offered some APEX ceo, Joe Leader, said: “As we rapidly move time in which to implement tech forward to the new ‘norm’ airlines are finding

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ways of making passengers feel safe. Much is does not think it needs to protect its crew and down to perceptions and how we engage.” passengers. I think these items will ultimately be in addition to, not instead of, established kits. Suppliers pivot Ours is a very resilient industry and although Within the supplier sector, creative teams this is probably our toughest crisis yet, we will quickly began to pivot their activities to focus on recover and get stronger”. amenities for the ‘new normal’. Gategroup’s deSter was already selling more

Madrid-based Kaelis reacted instinctively than 200 million PPE type items a year even to source face masks and PPE as Spain was before COVID-19 in its professionals range for drawn into the worst of the European outbreak. employees, including protective gowns, shoe Federico Heitz, ceo, said: “In the beginning we covers, hairnets, visors and face shields. The were simply trying to help save lives (especially team adapted these to create ‘Welcome Back’ in Spain) by using our supply chain of 23 years packs for both passengers and flight crew. to source PPE but the project soon developed Included items can be customised to meet and three months on we different requirements had supplied over 15 million across both the airline and pieces of PPE to airlines, food service industries – hospitals, ambulances and and include face masks, all around he world. Ours is a very resilient disinfecting wipes, gloves,

“PPE production became industry and although hand gels and bespoke our main activity but we this is probably our hygiene packs. hope this will not be forever. toughest crisis yet, we Likewise skysupply and The main point is convincing will recover and get FORMIA created new the passenger that they are safe to fly and getting them stronger hygiene focused options. Skysupply has Small, back on the aircraft.” Medium or Large Hygiene

His team developed a new Self-Protective Kits which come in a zipped pouch made of Pocket Pouch (branded SP.3) which includes a sustainable Kraft paper. The Small has one face mask, gloves, hand sanitiser and alcohol disposable face mask and three sanitiser wipes. wipes and can be adapted to include other The Medium includes two disposable masks, health and hygiene items too. 30ml hand sanitiser and a pair of nitrile gloves,

Heitz sees this as a new business opportunity, and the Large comes with an additional pack symbolic of the way the industry can adapt when of 10 hand sanitiser wipes. All products are CE it has to: “There is not an airline in the world that approved ensuring that they meet the EU

Below from left: Albéa has seen good take up of its PPE products; and FORMIA has launched a range of Clean Kit options

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L-R: Newrest Travel Retail has create SPK kits combining design and functionality; Protect Aid Collection Kit for retail Below: Luxury facemask from FORMIA

standards and airlines are able to customise Marketing director, Lisa Degen, said: the bag and its content. “Trusted solutions are paramount for

FORMIA’s new range of Clean Kits were restoring confidence, and travellers will want developed with quality PPE and sanitiser to be proactively responsible for ensuring all products which comply with international safety touchpoints along their journey are clean. standards and regulations, and are available as Comfort and wellness remain a key trend, but own-branded or in collaboration with a choice of it has become a communal duty rather than trusted brand partners. The range comes with an individualistic focus. There is a heightened individually-sealed products awareness of the social in a smart, durable pouch responsibility of health and with customising options for wellbeing, and wearing a branding. Comfort and wellness mask has become a symbol Maintaining the connection with quality brands and balancing the gifting ‘luxury’ of an amenity kit with the remain a key trend, but it has become a communal duty rather than an of caring for others, as well as a form of fashionable self-expression.” The company is working current hygiene imperative individualistic focus on new kits based around has remained top of mind 'clean' products and for suppliers. wellness priorities, working with established

Buzz turned its design team’s attention to brands such as Murchison Hume, C.O. Bigelow, post-COVID wellbeing products and predicted Rohr Remedy and Aromatherapy Associates increased demand for ‘clean’ brand partnerships which combine high quality cleaning with luxury going forward. skin care. Matrix went a step further creating a completely new toiletries brand – BeCleanCo – which puts wellbeing and hygiene at the heart of its positioning. Items in the range include a 2-in-1anti-bacterial hand gel+ – an anti-bacterial gel with the added benefits of a hand cream for protection and hydration in one; an antibacterial hand gel alternative to soap and water, face masks and gloves. The items can be bundled in packs for airports, with wipes and a ziplock pouch, or for airlines as PPE amenity kits in a wax paper pouch. The brand has already been picked up and is

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Below from left: Galileo Watermark has added a kids hygiene kit; skysupply offers PPE in a zipped pouch made of sustainable Kraft paper flying with a UK and Spanish airline. 100% cotton fabric in a choice of eye-catching

Albéa Travel Designer found they were knocking designs, which can reflect airline brand identity, on an open door with their Travel&StaySafe and reusable post-flight. customisable amenity kits and these are already Galileo Watermark launched IN SAFE HANDS and being offered by two major airlines and France's IN SAFE LITTLE HANDS for kids. The adult range biggest taxi business. includes the standard items - hand cleansing gel,

The range features masks, hydro-alcoholic gel, face mask, kits etc, and it can be fully customised gloves etc, and is designed to suit both airlines, for airline customers or presented as travel rail operators, shipping companies and private retail. The children’s range is intended to engage transport companies. They are made to order children and help take the fear factor out of masks with a variety of products and styles available. The and other PPE products which can seem a bit company has also launched intimidating to kids. an e-commerce platform Global Inflight Products where all its PPE offering created a range of kits for and kits are offered, with low A kids hygiene range is passengers, cabin crew and minimum order quantities intended to engage cockpit use featuring its Clean available. children and help take is Possible range and Briotech

SPIRIANT partnered with the fear factor out of electrolysed cleaning sprays FUZE-technology to offer its #flysafe amenity kits. The PPE kits come in three styles: Essentials, Eco Warriors and masks and other PPE products which can seem intimidating to them in a variety of combinations, alongside PPE and hygiene support items. With strong supply chain Fashionistas. The Essentials connections in China, Malton concept includes a MOPP pouch that contains Inflight stepped up efforts to get PPE to where items such as non-woven face masks, a small it was most needed from the start of the crisis. bottle of hand sanitiser and sanitising wipes. While Projects & marketing manager, Alex Oakley, said: the Eco Warriors range combines hygiene offers “We were able to pivot our offering and leverage with environmental awareness and a general sense our extensive sourcing network throughout Asia of fashion. It includes a reusable face mask and to gain access to these much needed supplies a pack of sanitising towels stored within a brown and get them where they need to be. We have and dark green pouch, designed to resemble the seen a huge surge in interest as companies put eco-friendly material. The customised Fashionista measures in place to ensure they are doing their collection will contain a refreshing towel and pack part to help stop the virus spread. Situations such of tissues, and reusable face mask made with as this really do bring out the best and worst in

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people and corporations, thankfully we are seeing Retail Global is among those tailoring its portfolio much positivity and support from our customers, to fit the bill. It launched a personal safety travel suppliers, staff and stakeholders. We are doing kit for sale at airports and inflight.The Protect-Aid our best to help by keeping prices low and not Safety Travel Kit is said to kill 99.9% of potentially engaging in any of the profiteering that we have harmful germs and bacteria and contains four unfortunately seen in some areas.” essential personal protection and disinfecting

In the U.S, Linstol is offering a robust mix of PPE products. The lightweight resealable pack features safety essentials packed in customised kits as well two pairs of disposable, latex, powder-free gloves, as broader hygiene products such as Theraworx two face masks, anti-bacterial hand sanitiser with Protect, Pure and ICloth - aloe vera (50ml), and five specialist superbug defence disinfecting surface wipes. brands. The kit items are sourced

The wide availability of Hygiene products for from FDA registered suppliers hand-sanitisers has become travel retail are and are TSA compliant. standard along the passenger journey and businesses like Freshorize are working to distribute hand soap and increasingly in demand for sale at the airports or inflight to support Newrest Travel Retail has also added a 'Self Protective Kit' (SPK) for retail which integrates design and sanitisers to passengers and personal protection functionality, crew. The company’s multiInnovation in the creation purpose disinfectant EPA wipe is Boeing and AMS and style of face masks is also coming through. certified and very effective in the cabin, on seats, in United airlines began making masks for employees lavatories and galleys. The company is also working out of recycled, not-needed uniforms and Londonon a ready-to-use multi-purpose disinfectant spray based ‘Free Masketeers’ is designing bespoke and has received requests for passenger kits with masks using the leftover fabric from hotel alcohol-based wipes for hands and surfaces, gloves uniforms and NHS scrubs. For every 100 ordered, and face masks, and hand sanitiser. 20 are donated to charities.To date,

RMT Global Partners’ has seen strong interest in over 10,000 masks its Inflight Tidy Kit designed specifically for cabin have gone to crew as a practical tool - a solution to cleaning and charities. sanitation during the flight when cabin cleaners are No doubt further not available. initiatives and new

With this issue top of mind for most travellers creative solutions are there are also indications that hygiene products also currently in the for travel retail are increasingly in demand. Travel making.•

Above from left: PPE is now standard for Emirates crew; SPIRIANT's Eco Warrior option Below: RMT reports demand for Tidy Kits