Nadi International Airport Achieves Airports Council International’s Airport Health Accreditation

Nadi International Airport has become the first airport in the South Pacific to achieve and be awarded Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation through its Travel Safe programme which prioritises the health and safety of arriving and departing passengers.

Airports Council International Asia-Pacific Director General, Stefano Baronci said “Many congratulations to the team at Nadi International Airport for securing the Airport Health Accreditation. Small island state airports who rely on international tourism have been hit particularly hard by the global pandemic. The Airport Health Accreditation serves as reassurance to regulators and travellers that all health precautions are in place for the safe resumption of travel.”

“With no local cases in over 200 days, Fiji's coronavirus containment is the most effective in the world. Meanwhile, the economic urgency of adapting travel-related industries to the new normal grows by the day. As many of our major development partners see success at containing the virus, Fiji is actively seeking to re-establish economically-vital flows of trade, tourism, and human capital. As the South Pacific's gateway to the world, Nadi International Airport's Travel Safe Accreditation is a major confidence-builder for our tourism markets and milestone on the road to our region's economic recovery," said Fijian Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Fiji Airports Chairman, Geoffrey Shaw said the ACI Airport Health Accreditation award is a catalyst to build passenger confidence once air travel frequency resumes.

“This recognition and international award delivers excellent news for Nadi International Airport and for Fiji as a whole. Nadi International Airport is the first airport in the South Pacific to achieve this accreditation. A significant portion of our economy depends on tourism and with this ACI Airport Health Accreditation award, Fiji’s appeal as a safe destination will be amplified and provide a boost of confidence for our intending international visitors,” Shaw said.

“Nadi International Airport has been working diligently behind the scenes to evolve our systems and processes during this pandemic and in readiness for the resumption of air travel. We have implemented our Travel Safe programme which has been developed in conjunction and partnership with our airport stakeholders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This award is a testament to our continuous efforts to achieve and maintain high standards of health and hygiene, offering further tangible assurance to travellers.”

ACI Airport Health Accreditation programme assists airports by assessing new requirements for health measures and procedures to be introduced to meet global standards as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As airports around the world begin to ramp up passenger numbers and prepare for normal operations, the focus is on ensuring the health and welfare of travellers, staff and the general public.

The ACI Airport Health Accreditation programme provides airports with a direct assessment against the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations and includes industry best practices.

Critical areas of assessment for accreditation include cleaning and disinfection, physical distancing, staff protection, physical layout, passenger communications and facilities.

Contact: 

Christopher Chand, Communications and Public Relations Manager

email: ChristopherC@fijiairports.com.fj