Koltsovo International Airport (managed by Airports of Regions MС) is one of the first Russian airports to receive the maximum 5-star rating following a Сovid-security audit conducted by the experts of Skytrax (based in the UK), a respected international rating organisation. The audit checks compliance with more than 175 security protocols introduced for airports during the coronavirus pandemic.
Auditors assess if an airport has taken measures to safeguard the health, hygiene and safety of passengers and staff: visual and audible signage, social distancing markings, no-touch thermometry, availability of personal protective gear, and touch free service technologies. Special emphasis is placed on the use of personal protective gear by airport staff and visitors, the cleanliness of all functional areas and the availability of coronavirus testing facilities. Based on the audit results, Skytrax makes a judgement on how effective and consistent coronavirus prevention measures are at a particular air hub.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, all mandatory measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection have been in place at Koltsovo Airport to ensure the safety of both our staff and passengers. We are confident in the reliability of the measures taken; therefore, we invited Skytrax experts to our airport to conduct an audit. As a result, we have not only proven that we adhere to the highest standards of Covid-19 prevention in our hub; we were also privileged to hear the expert opinion on possible points of growth, which we will certainly take into account in our future work,” says Alexey Piskunov, Executive Director of Koltsovo Airport.
“Eye-catching, conspicuous markings raising awareness regarding COVID-19 as well as social distancing signs are commendable. The airport ensures very intensive cleaning and disinfection of the main contact areas. All introduced anti-epidemic measures encourage the use of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing,” said Skytrax Chief Executive Edward Plaisted.
The five stars rating demonstrates the highest level of cleanliness in airports and their strict adherence to all procedures of passenger service. The 5-star COVID-19 Safety Rating, apart from the three airports managed by Airports of Regions MC, has so far only been awarded to five airports in Rome, Istanbul, Bogota, Baku and Hamad (Doha).