Singapore Airlines Awarded Highest Diamond Rating In Global Airline Health And Safety Audit
19 January 2021 - Singapore Airlines (SIA) has been awarded the Diamond rating – the highest level attainable – in the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying audit of global airlines.
The audit, which was jointly conducted by industry body Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and aviation strategy firm SimpliFlying, involved a quantitative 58-point checklist covering 10 categories. These included testing, tracing, on-the-ground procedures, in-flight measures and partnerships to further enhance safety integrity.
The diamond rating is the highest achievable level for the audit, marking at least 200 points above the minimum gold standard determined by APEX and SimpliFlying for passenger safety and well-being. Standards are based on independently verified, validated, and certified airline passenger health safety measures.
Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Singapore Airlines, said: “Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, we undertook a comprehensive review of our health and safety measures together with our partners and regulators, in consultation with medical experts, and by taking on board customer feedback.
“Our teams deep-dived into many check points along the end-to-end customer journey. We reinforced existing procedures where necessary, enhanced some of them, introduced new measures to supplement them, and used digital technologies to complement them and support a more seamless travel experience.
“Receiving the Diamond status in this audit is a recognition of this unwavering commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our customers and staff in all areas of our operations. Singapore Airlines is renowned for our industry-leading product and service, and we will continue to ensure that world-class health and safety standards remain an integral part of our brand promise.”
Dr. Joe Leader, CEO of APEX, said: “Singapore Airlines’ commitment to customer well-being shines via a contactless journey management bolstered by best-in-class onboard hygiene. As a Diamond health safety certified airline, Singapore Airlines has gone a step beyond investing in their passengers’ wellness by implementing the latest advances in testing and health passport technology.”
Shashank Nigam, CEO of SimpliFlying, said: “Singapore Airlines has raised the bar for health safety standards in the industry with initiatives such as near-touch check-in kiosks, mobile notifications for baggage delays and digitisation of in-flight menus and magazines. Taking hospital-grade measures in ensuring health safety will help bolster trust among travellers."
Health and safety when travelling with Singapore Airlines
SIA has introduced comprehensive health and safety measures to ensure the well-being of our customers and staff members. Pre-departure measures include basic passenger health assessments, as well as contactless services such as mobile check-in and digital in-flight menus.
SIA regularly applies anti-microbial coating on high-touch surfaces including areas in the lounges, as well as various sections of the aircraft cabin including the lavatories. On selected aircraft, electrostatic spraying machines containing a disinfecting agent are used to sanitise the cabin.
During the flight, SIA requires all customers and staff members to wear masks unless they are eating or drinking. Cabin crew are also required to wear goggles, as well as gloves when necessary, while interacting with our customers. They are also required to be in protective gowns on flights from certain sectors.
While all physical newspapers and magazines have been removed, SIA offers customers a free e-Library via their personal tablets and mobile devices that provides access to more than 1,000 global publications. Meal services have been simplified to reduce contact, but SIA has managed to reintroduce favourites such as its satay and garlic bread for premium classes within one tray.
All SIA aircraft are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which remove more than 99.9% of particles including airborne viruses and bacteria in the cabin. The cabin air is refreshed every two to three minutes throughout the flight. Post-flight, headsets, headrest covers, pillow covers, bedsheets and blankets are replaced. Linens are washed at high temperatures to disinfect them after every use.
More information on SIA’s health and safety measures can be found here.
In December, SIA also launched trials on a digital health verification process, the first in the world to be based on the International Air Transport Association’s Travel Pass framework. This allows customers to securely store and present information related to Covid-19 tests, as well as their vaccination status in the future. This helps to support the industry’s safe and calibrated recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
