Changes at ACY Amidst the Pandemic
Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) located in the heart of South Jersey in Egg Harbor Township and serves residents of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. It is known to many as a well-suited alternative to the region’s metropolitan airports in New York City and Philadelphia.
Owned and operated by the South Jersey Transportation Authority since 1992, the airport sits on 5,030 acres and is a shared-use airport adjacent to the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center that houses the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Transportation Laboratory. ACY is also home to the Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing “Jersey Devils,” the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Air Marshal Training Facility.
COVID-19 has created an ever-changing environment and many organizations have had to adapt and change the way they do business. ACY was ahead of the game. While we have made changes, we pride ourselves on the safe environment we had prior to the pandemic. For example, ACY’s restroom facilities have been hands free for many years. No door to touch when entering or exiting the restrooms. Faucets, soap dispensers, hand dryers and even the toilets are all operated by sensors to create a touchless system.
While some airports are delaying construction and expansion projects, ACY is moving forward and in some cases accelerating and combining phases.
ACY has implemented best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic including mandatory face coverings. Social distancing markers have been applied to provide guidance on six-foot distancing at common areas such as ticket counters, boarding gates, concession counters and the queue lane at the security checkpoint.
Frequent touch areas such as door handles and handrails have been covered with an antimicrobial protection film that kills most bacteria for up to 60 days.
A PPE (personal protective equipment) vending machine has been installed for passengers to be able to purchase items they may have forgot such as face masks, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, infrared thermometers, UV-C phone sanitizers and clean key (for touchless door opening, button pushing, and touch screens).
Plastic barriers have been installed at all airline ticket counters, passenger boarding gates and concession checkout counters. Additional hand sanitizing stations have been placed throughout the terminal.
Signage and public service announcements throughout the terminal remind the traveling public about wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
The skilled Environmental Services employees at ACY have increased the frequency of cleaning all facilities above and beyond the recommended requirements to ensure the safety of all passengers. Special care is given to elevator buttons, escalator and stair handrails, vending machines, self-check-in touch screens, charging stations, trash receptacles and other common touch points within the airport. Enhanced cleaning requirements are being implemented in the TSA screening checkpoint and the TSA checked baggage facility.
Use of EPA approved disinfectants rated for use against COVID-19 are used in sprayers for wider coverage to clean larger areas more quickly and effectively allowing time for more frequent disinfecting.
HVAC filters have been changed throughout the airport with vents/returns continually being cleaned and disinfected.
The Atlantic City International airport remains diligent in staying on top of the latest information and technology. Our number one concern is to provide a safe, healthy environment for all passengers and employees.