Paro International Airport is Certified as a Safe Airport for Travellers

Paro International Airport is Certified as a Safe Airport for Travellers

  • Posted On 16th Jul 2021
  • Posted In News/Update

On July 14, 2021, Paro International Airport was awarded the Certificate of Accreditation by Airports Council International (ACI). The accreditation was received as part of ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme after evaluating that Paro International Airport has shown to provide a safe airport experience for all travellers. The measures taken at Paro International Airport are in line with the recommended health measures established in the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force Recommendations, along with industry best practices.

The accreditation is valid for the next 12 months ‘till July 8, 2022.

The programme is designed to help reassure travellers that airport facilities remain safe and that precautions are being taken to reduce any health risks.

Upon news of the COVID-19 outbreak in China at the end of December 2019, Bhutan has taken swift action to take precautionary measures. Paro International Airport has taken precautionary measures since January 15, 2020. Infrared fever scanners were installed promptly, and health questionnaires were distributed to thoroughly screen passengers.

Today, the airport has stepped up the measures even further to prevent any transmission. Below are some of the COVID-19 precautionary measures currently undertaken at Paro International Airport:

  1. Every staff working at the airport will undergo a PCR test every two weeks.
  2. All the frontline staff (ie: staff handling the loading and unloading of cargoes, custom officials, etc) are required to stay in the containment centre to avoid mingling with others.
  3. All staff working at the airport are required to wear double face masks and a face shield for maximum protection.
  4. Drukair crew members are required to stay in the containment centre for 21-day (sponsored by Drukair) and subsequently in the quarantine facility (state-sponsored) for one week. Covid tests will be conducted during the last day, and one can only get discharged upon getting a negative test result. After discharge, the crew members need to stay at home for another one week to prevent mingling with the public. If the test result turns out to be positive, the personnel will be transferred to an isolation ward in the hospital.
  5. All parcels and goods will need to go through a disinfection process and be put under quarantine for 24 hours.
  6. Drukair provides passengers with a bottle of hand sanitiser on-flight, as well as a mask upon landing at Paro International Airport.

The health and personal safety of travellers is of the utmost importance to Paro International Airport. The government of Bhutan and the management of Paro International Airport takes serious efforts to ensure the wellbeing of the locals and foreigners entering the country.