MADINAH — Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Intl. Airport in Madinah has been accredited under Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) program, recognizing the airport’s high standard in upholding hygiene, health and safety in its operations. The AHA program supports airports around the globe to introduce sturdy preventive hygiene, health & safety measures in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. It reveals how an airport’s health measures are aligned with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Council Aviation Restart Task Force (CART) recommendations along with industry best practices. The ACI assessment covered all the preventive hygiene, health and safety measures undertaken by the airport for passengers and staff, with special focus on passenger areas and processes such as; terminal access, car park, check-in areas, luggage trolleys, security screening, boarding gates, lounges, retail, food and beverages, gate equipment such as boarding bridges, escalators and elevators, border control areas and facilities (in collaboration with relevant authorities), baggage claim area and arrivals exit. The assessment also considered the initiatives that airport took for safety and well-being of employees and stakeholders. Eng. Sofiene Abdessaelm, managing director of Tibah Airports Operation Co., said, “Since the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we have taken a proactive stance, working with the airport community and the authorities to prioritize and implement preventive hygiene, health and safety measures in the airport’s daily operations. “ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation emboldens our commitment and consistent drive towards the safety of travelers, airport employees, and the local community, as well as a recognition of all the robust precautionary hygiene, health and safety measures that have been implemented at Madinah Airport. “I would like to thank and congratulate General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), our stakeholders and partners, and the entire Tibah team for their diligent efforts in achieving this important accreditation, this has been a remarkable collaborative effort.” — SG