Soekarno-Hatta Became The Safest Airport During The Pandemic In Southeast Asia Aligned With Singapore's Changi, In Asia, It Only Lost To China's Beijing Airport

Soekarno Hatta Airport. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Soekarno-Hatta Airport has been named the safest airport in Southeast Asia for airplane passengers to travel in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic from the global organization Safe Travel Barometer.

President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero) Muhammad Awaluddin said the success of Soekarno-Hatta Airport in achieving the highest score was driven by various innovations and collaborations among all stakeholders.

"Innovation, collaboration, and the commitment and strong desire of all stakeholders in maintaining the aviation sector to always contribute to supporting the handling of COVID-19 were able to make Soekarno-Hatta Airport achieve the highest Safe Travel Score in Asean, number two in Asia-Pacific, and number 14 at the international level. Globally. As an airport manager, AP II is grateful for the hard work of all Soekarno-Hatta Airport stakeholders and the strong support from the government", said Muhammad Awaluddin in his statement, quoted from Antara, Thursday, September 2.

Muhammad Awaluddin said, based on an assessment conducted in May 2021, the Safe Travel Score (Safe Travel Score) reached 4.3 out of a scale of 5.0 for Soekarno-Hatta Airport. This score is the same as that obtained by Changi Airport in Singapore.

The results achieved are very positive, because previously in 2020 the Soekarno-Hatta Airport score was at level 4.09 and below Changi. The score of 4.3 is also the highest compared to other airports in the Asean region.

Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Changi Airport share the second position, where the first place is Beijing International Capital Airport (China) with a score of 4.4. At the global level, Soekarno-Hatta Airport is ranked 14th.

He explained that the Safe Travel Score assessment was carried out based on an independent audit of 34 initiatives including the COVID-19 health protocol, traveler comfort, and service excellence, both on the airside and landside.

The Safe Travel Barometer states that in the midst of this pandemic airports need to provide a seamless experience, coupled with safety aspects and ensuring the smooth flow of passengers to avoid crowds, as well as stay focused on the security aspect.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport's innovations in strengthening health protocols in the midst of this pandemic are through Biosecurity Management, namely:

- Keep your distance (physical distancing) Applied in all airport areas such as security checkpoints, check-in counters, boarding lounges, elevators, toilets, and so on

- Health screening Everyone who enters the terminal building must go through a body temperature check with a thermal scanner and smart helmet used by aviation security personnel. Body temperature checks are also carried out in the international arrivals area.

The examination of the results of the COVID-19 test is also carried out in the domestic departure area, through the barcode validation of the PeduliLindungi application

- Massively implemented passenger touchless processing services/facilities, such as: paperless validation for health documents using the PeduliLindungi application; self-check-in using a traveling machine or app; use of full-body scanner machines at security checkpoints for inspection of prospective passengers; customer service using video (video customer assistant/VICA), to adjustment of elevator buttons

- Facility cleanliness The cleanliness aspect of the entire airport area remains a full concern, coupled with routine disinfection of all facilities for passengers such as chairs, trolleys, elevators, tables, toilets, and so on. Handrail travelators and escalators, as well as conveyor belts in the baggage claim area now also use a UV sterilizer

- People protection Everyone at the airport is required to wear a mask, while airport personnel uses personal protective equipment (PPE) according to their respective duties.

Meanwhile, Senior General Manager of Soekarno-Hatta Airport Agus Haryadi said the application of biosecurity management is complemented by biosafety management.

"Biosafety management has a program for handling biohazards, routine monitoring of environmental conditions in the midst of a pandemic, sterilization of all infrastructure, ensuring the creation of public health, one of which is by presenting laboratory testing facilities for COVID-19", said Agus Haryadi.

Soekarno-Hatta Airport has several times received global recognition related to health protocols, including: Airport Health Accreditation from Airport Council International (ACI), Best Hygiene Measures by Region (Asia-Pacific) from ACI, The 2021 COVID-19 Airport Excellence Awards from Skytrax, and the latest Safe Travel Score 4.3 from the Safe Travel Barometer.