Changi Airport has announced a slew of contactless and tech-based measures that will be rolled out to ensure safe air travel to and from Singapore.
- As a part of this, more than 160 automated kiosks across Terminals 1 and 3 will be fitted with proximity touch screens, with infrared sensors to track finger movements. Passengers just need to hover their fingers above the screens for a contactless check-in and bag-drop process. All the screens at these automated kiosks have been sprayed with anti-microbial disinfectant coating.
- Acrylic screens are placed at check-in counters as an added layer of protection for passengers and airport workers. Over 400 pieces of acrylic screens will be installed at check-in, immigration, customs, GST refund and information counters.
- Autonomous cleaning robots used in the terminals have been equipped with a misting attachment that disinfects the carpets immediately after cleaning. This is in addition to daily carpet vacuuming being undertaken by a separate set of cleaning robots equipped with HEPA filter.
- Facial and iris recognition will be implemented at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Following the check-in process, eligible departing passengers can proceed for immigration clearance via the new automated clearance lanes. At these lanes, passengers who have enrolled their iris and facial biometrics will be prompted to look into the iris and facial scan cameras after scanning their passport, for identity verification. Necessary hygiene precautions will be adopted in case fingerprint scanning is needed.
- A trial for using ultraviolet-C (UV-C) LED light technology on the escalator and travellator handrails is being undertaken. Along with this, externally mounted UV-C devices are also being considered for close to 300 escalators and travellators across Changi’s terminals. The airport is also looking at installing contactless lift buttons using infrared technology.
- Increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting high-touch points and lavatories with door-less entry, auto-flush, auto-taps and auto-soap dispensers are few other safety protocols.
Tan Lye Teck, Changi Airport Group’s (CAG) executive vice president for Airport Management said, “Passengers will expect airports to deliver the highest standards of safety and hygiene to give them peace of mind during their journey, and we will rapidly bring onboard new measures as we go into a new normal for air travel.
“The improvements we announce today demonstrate CAG’s continuous commitment to passenger health and positive airport experience. CAG will work with other aviation partners to instil a high sense of confidence among travellers going through Changi Airport when air travel eventually resumes.”
