Applause for 'Sky Quarantine'... 500 Days of COVID, Zero Transmission Among Air Busan Employees and Passengers During Work

Airline First to Install Thermal Cameras and Automatic Hand Sanitizers at Boarding Gates for Proactive Quarantine

From the 11th, First Domestic Airline to Provide Self-Test Kits Onboard and In-Company

Non-Stop Flights ⇒ International Sightse

An Air Busan cabin crew member is guiding passengers while wearing protective clothing and goggles. [Image source=Air Busan]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] How is "sky quarantine" being managed during the COVID-19 period? The 2nd marked the 500th day since the first domestic case was reported.

Attention is focused on Air Busan, Busan's representative airline, for its countermeasures and strategies in fighting the direct impact of COVID-19 on air travel.

Air Busan (CEO Ahn Byung-seok) announced on the 3rd that, amid the COVID-19 situation, by strictly adhering to quarantine rules and introducing a preemptive quarantine system, there have been zero cases of infectious disease transmission between passengers onboard or employees infected with COVID-19 while on duty.

When the first domestic COVID-19 case was confirmed last year, Air Busan immediately began its own onboard disinfection. In February, it disinfected all flights arriving from China and proactively responded by suspending operations on major overseas routes.

In April last year, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and ensure passengers' peace of mind, Air Busan became the first domestic airline to install its own thermal imaging cameras at boarding gates on all routes.

To date, temperature checks are conducted for all passengers, and a meticulous quarantine system has been established, including △automatic hand sanitizers at boarding gates △strengthened contactless airport services △constant disinfection of frequently used onboard facilities △provision of hand sanitizers onboard.

Based on this quarantine system, Air Busan is also pioneering various niche markets. Since conducting the first non-landing flight in Korea in October last year, it has evolved into international sightseeing flights and educational flights, leading a safe yet unique air travel culture.

In December last year, Air Busan was the first to resume international arrivals at Gimhae Airport, where international flights had been suspended due to COVID-19 quarantine measures.

It currently operates the only direct provincial airport route, Qingdao~Busan, allowing over 2,000 passengers to enter through Gimhae Airport without passing through Incheon.

Air Busan is moving even faster to overcome the COVID-19 era. Starting on the 11th, it will be the first domestic airline to provide COVID-19 self-test kits within the company to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among employees.

Any employee can receive a kit during work hours and perform a self-test. If a suspected positive result appears, immediate isolation will follow, and the employee will undergo COVID-19 testing at a screening clinic.

Through this preemptive measure, Air Busan plans to continuously maintain "zero occurrence and transmission of infectious diseases within the company." Additionally, the self-test kits will be sold onboard to assist passengers wishing to purchase them.

Air Busan's proactive and differentiated strategy is gaining recognition. It is also one step ahead in preparing for the post-COVID recovery period, including the introduction of "travel bubbles" and "vaccine passports" that allow overseas travel without quarantine.

Air Busan CEO Ahn Byung-seok stated, "Air Busan is implementing the most proactive and aggressive quarantine policies among domestic airlines so that passengers can use our aircraft with peace of mind."

He added, "With the expansion of vaccinations, international flights are expected to gradually recover in the second half of the year, but we will never neglect quarantine measures to ensure many passengers can use our services safely."