Airports are evolving from being mere transportation hubs to standalone visitor destinations and tourism showpieces for governments. As such, airport managers are faced with the increasing challenge of creating value and providing an experience to passengers that will differentiate them from competitors. Many of the activities that are performed in airports contribute to outdoor and indoor air pollution – from vehicular emissions of taxis, buses, and private vehicles to airside operations like refueling, landing, and take-off cycles among others. Exposure to various pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter can result in significant health problems for passengers and airport personnel.
Airports can be potential hotbeds for coronavirus transmission. With tens of millions of passengers and visitors who enter and spend time inside airports, the possibility of infection increases. With various studies on the link between air quality and the spread of viruses, it becomes crucial to manage indoor air quality in public spaces like airports. As part of an overall indoor environmental quality management strategy, monitoring air quality performance can provide operational and passenger benefits to an airport. With real-time and accurate air quality data, airport managers can identify critical sources of problems so they can promptly address them. Having a centralized view of all the locations in the airport in one dashboard and integration with the HVAC and building systems simplifies management and control to ensure optimal indoor air quality. Creating a healthy and safe airport environment improves the health and well-being of airport and airline partners’ staff. More importantly, it enhances not only passenger experience but also confidence in travel.