Safe Travel Barometer, the world’s most comprehensive database for COVID-19 traveler health and safety protocols, has released the Safe Travel Score for airports worldwide including for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region (see table).
This follows the announcement of the ‘safest airlines’ last month, a report that this website had carried earlier. The Safe Travel Score is an industry-first rating initiative, based on an independent audit of more than 200 airports and 20 traveler health and safety measures announced by airports. The Safe Travel Score is an indicator of the preparedness of the travel industry as part of the ‘new normal’.
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) emerged as APAC’s and the world’s ‘safest’ airport with Safe Travel Score of 4.7 out of 5. The airport has taken several proactive measures, including the implementation of touchless initiatives, to enhance the passenger experience across the landside and airside areas. These include sensor-based check-in kiosks and biometric-based immigration systems to eliminate fingerprint scanning.
Being the ground zero for the COVID-19 pandemic, APAC’s airports have a head start in implementing traveler health and safety measures compared to other regions. These measures are also directed by the respective aviation authorities and governments at large. Accordingly, APAC airports are the most mature in the world when it comes to implementation of safe travel initiatives, including COVID-19 testing of passengers upon arrival.
Other airports which made it to the APAC top 10 include two from China – Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK); three from India – Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM).
Aviation authorities in both the countries have had a significant influence over the roll-out of passenger safety measures.
Airports play a critical role in easing the passengers into the new normal. They are the first line of defense in ensuring a safe and less anxious travel. Overnight, hundreds of airports worldwide had to upend their operational processes; research, evaluate and implement a variety of initiatives to ensure traveler and crew safety and comfort, while also minimizing the chances of COVID-19 transmission.
Virendra Jain, Co-Founder and CEO, Safe Travel, states, “Changi Airport is known for its innovation and seamless passenger experience. So it is not a surprise that they excelled in the implementation of various traveler health and safety in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Jain adds, “The successive release of the Safe Travel Score for airlines and airports allows us to piece together a holistic view of air travel, beginning from the airside all the way through on-board experiences. Our independent rating centered on traveler health and safety measures establishes a baseline for travel brands, while equally offering travelers a glimpse into what they can expect in their journeys.”
Top 10 Asia Pacific Airports for COVID-19 Traveler Safety Measures, September 2020
|
Airport |
Country |
Safe Travel Score* |
|
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) |
Singapore |
4.7 |
|
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) |
China |
4.6 |
|
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
India |
4.6 |
|
Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) |
India |
4.5 |
|
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) |
Hong Kong |
4.4 |
|
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) |
China |
4.4 |
|
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) |
India |
4.3 |
|
Sydney Airport (SYD) |
Australia |
4.2 |
|
Melbourne Airport (MEL) |
Australia |
4.2 |
|
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) |
Malaysia |
4.2 |
*Safe Travel Score is based on an independent audit of more than 20 parameters applicable to an in- airport experience across airside and landside. It includes COVID-19 related hygiene and safety measures announced by airports for travelers, airline crew and related on-ground
For more data on airports, we suggest you check out further on the Safe Travel Barometer Dashboard for Airports.
Top 5 Worldwide Airports for COVID-19 Traveler Safety Measures, September 2020
|
Airport |
Country |
Safe Travel Score |
|
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) |
Singapore |
4.7 |
|
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) |
Germany |
4.6 |
|
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) |
China |
4.6 |
|
Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) |
India |
4.6 |
|
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) |
U.A.E. |
4.5 |
Top 5 North American Airports for COVID-19 Traveler Safety Measures, September 2020
|
Airport |
Country |
Safe Travel Score |
|
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) |
U.S. |
4.1 |
|
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) |
U.S. |
4.0 |
|
Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS) |
U.S. |
3.9 |
|
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) |
U.S. |
3.9 |
|
Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) |
U.S. |
3.9 |
Top 5 European Airports for COVID-19 Traveler Safety Measures, September 2020
|
Airport |
Country |
Safe Travel Score |
|
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) |
Germany |
4.6 |
|
Heathrow Airport (LHR) |
U.K. |
4.4 |
|
Boryspil International Airport (KBP) |
Kiev |
4.3 |
|
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) |
Netherlands |
4.3 |
|
Paris-Orly (ORY) |
France |
4.3 |
Top 5 Middle East and Africa Airports for COVID-19 Traveler Safety Measures, September 2020
|
Airport |
Country |
Safe Travel Score |
|
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) |
U.A.E. |
4.5 |
|
Dubai International Airport (DXB) |
U.A.E. |
4.5 |
|
Hamad International Airport (DOH) |
Qatar |
4.3 |
|
Bahrain International Airport (BAH) |
Bahrain |
4.0 |
|
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) |
Turkey |
3.9 |
About Safe Travel Barometer:
Safe Travel Barometer is the world’s most comprehensive database of traveler health and safety measures announced by travel brands. The coverage includes more than 1,500 companies across 10 industry categories, 50 parameters, and traveler arrival information on more than 80 destinations. Safe Travel Barometer is an independent subsidiary of VIDEC, a travel industry advisory and consulting firm.
