Health and Safety Key Priorities for America’s Friendliest Airport®

The COVID-19 global health pandemic continues to shape the way that businesses operate. At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, that is no different. It's important that customers, employees, and community members understand that the health and safety of those in the airport is Sky Harbor’s top priority. Phoenix Sky Harbor has always prided itself on its cleanliness, but in light of the pandemic, even greater emphasis has been placed on maintaining clean facilities.

Keeping Clean Airport

employees have worked hard to ensure that facilities are vigorously cleaned, and sanitation is top of mind. This includes a robust, around-the-clock cleaning schedule, especially in high-touch areas. In June, Sky Harbor added a new set of handrail cleaners to complement its cleaning schedule. The cleaners are set-up to clean both sides of the escalator handrails simultaneously, thus reducing the time needed for cleaning.

And, most recently, those traveling through Sky Harbor will notice new signs on some of the escalators. The Airport has recently added seven UV-C LED light sterilizers to pre-security escalators in Terminals 3 and 4. Operating around-the-clock, the new handrail sterilizer is known to kill up to 99.9 % of disease-causing microorganisms using a germ-destroying light. The light is mounted underneath the escalator handrails out of the passengers’ view. It provides an excellent sanitizing solution for the high-touch handrails and operates 24/7.

PHX Here for You

With passenger traffic picking up, the Airport embarked upon a campaign to highlight what Sky Harbor is doing so that customers can feel comfortable when they are ready to travel again. A Rule and Regulation went into effect on June 1 that requires employees and members of the public using public airport facilities such as terminals, the PHX Sky Train®, the Rental Car Center and Airport buses to wear a face covering. Signage was deployed throughout airport facilities which highlighted the new requirement as well as included distance markers and additional signage highlighting the Airport’s efforts. Airport staff has also come together to place masks in sanitized bags with stickers so that they can be available to those customers who might need one. Thousands of masks have been bagged and distributed as the PHX Here for You Crew is out and about in the terminals handing them out to customers.

Vending Machines Have What You Need

Airport shops have been selling facial coverings as well as other personal protective equipment (PPE) since early in the pandemic, however, earlier this summer, Sky Harbor also added PPE vending machines. These machines feature an assortment of items travelers might need or want for their travels to keep them safe. Items include individual and bulk packaged face masks, including disposable, cloth and KN95 options; individual and bulk hand sanitizers; all-in-one hygiene kits; multi-use thermometers; gloves; portable and rechargeable UV-C sanitizers for mobile devices and personal items; and much more. There are five PPE vending machines in Terminal 3, six in Terminal 4, and one at the Airport’s Rental Car Center.

To learn more and to keep up on operational changes related to COVID-19 at Sky Harbor, visit https://www.skyharbor.com/BeforeTraveling/health-information.