New Day

The new age of airport cleanliness

By: Kim Bridger-Hunt

pring Break 2020 proved to S be a very interesting week at Corpus Christi International Airport (CCIA). By the time the annual week of fun rolled around, airports and airlines already knew what was coming. Because of COVID-19, activity at CCIA was about to take a tumble. It was happening in cities all across the nation.

There was no sitting still. Attention in airport offices turned to what would be necessary to make the terminal safe and welcoming for customers, tenants and employees in the future. Despite the dramatic turn of events, air travel would come back. The planning for that began immediately.

There has always been attention paid to cleanliness in airports. Customers expect it, and they should. But this situation called for new ideas, research and targeted attention to how things are done in places like medical facilities. Disinfecting a public facility is no easy task. But starting in March 2020, it became a staple at CCIA.

Enter the Clorox® Pro 360® system. New to CCIA in April, Assistant Director Kevin Smith was familiar with this technology, having just moved to CCIA from a little airport in North Texas called DFW. At DFW, this technology became a “go to” because of its capability to deliver disinfecting solution from the floor to the ceiling. “This technology is a game changer for airports not only because of the reach it has, but also because once the solution hits the surface, it will continue to kill germs and pathogens for up to 30 days,” Smith said.

The system includes an electrostatic sprayer, which adds a charge to the liquid and causes it to bounce around, landing in places that are hard to reach. The system is now hard at work in the CCIA terminal.

CCIA is also adding a system called pureAIR 3000, a series of small units that can be placed in various locations in the terminal. The pureAIR 3000 units use a catalytic converter process to convert oxygen and moisture into hydrogen peroxide, which is released into the air to attack germs and pathogens. The units will stay on 24 hours a day and will continuously kill harmful germs within a 1,500-squarefoot radius around the machine.

“We are committed to making this terminal cleaner and safer than it’s ever been,” Smith said. “When travelers are ready to fly again, they can rest assured that our enhanced cleaning and disinfecting will be constant and thorough.”

We can’t forget about a product called Silver Defender, a tape-like film that can be placed on frequently touched surfaces and handles. It’s armed with antimicrobial protection, and it kills harmful germs and pathogens constantly. The Silver Defender has been installed all over the terminal.

In addition to the new technology that is actively cleaning constantly at CCIA, visitors will notice other precautions immediately. Social distancing reminders are placed in areas where lines tend to form. The airlines have installed sneeze guards to protect both their employees and their customers from germs going either way. The TSA has instituted new cleaning protocols for the bins they use and for all surfaces that are touched by customers and employees.

Seating inside the terminal has been reconfigured to give travelers more distance from others not in their group. Hand sanitizers are placed in various locations around the terminal. All of the CCIA restrooms have been outfitted with automatic faucets, soap dispensers and paper dispensers so that customers can wash and dry their hands without touching anything. And airport tenants such as rental car companies, restaurants and the news and gift shop each have their own enhanced cleaning and disinfecting processes in place.

CCIA is ready when you are. Avoid the crowds! Enjoy the convenience and safety of your airport here at home! And when it’s time to take a trip, FlyCCIA! The more we use the service offered by the airlines, the better our chances of getting additional service in the future.

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