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Southwest’s new cleaning protocols: Seat belts and armrests will not be cleaned between flights.
Southwest Airlines shared in a statement:
We are also optimizing staffing and cleaning processes to focus on cleaning as many high-touch areas as possible during the allotted turns (all tray tables and lavatories) while shifting some areas to be disinfected during our overnight cleaning process, when Southwest Teams spend six to seven hours per aircraft cleaning all interior surfaces.
As of now, the only surfaces that will be cleaned between each flight are lavatories and tray tables, seat belts and armrests will not.
According to Southwest, this approach is one more evolution designed to support their multi-layered cleaning program that occurs throughout the day – the highlights include:
Southwest’s Around-the-Clock Cleaning Approach:
Electrostatic Spraying: Both an electrostatic disinfectant and an anti-microbial spray are applied on every surface of the aircraft at least once per month, killing viruses on contact and forming an anti-microbial coating for 30 days. Southwest has purchased dozens of the electrostatic sprayers, and the devices are present at locations across our network to maintain this ongoing treatment.
Enhanced Overnight Cleaning: We deep clean each plane from nose to tail for nearly six to seven hours every night, including all high-touch surfaces such as seat belt buckles, tray tables, air vents, arm rests, galleys, lavatories, etc.
Cleaning Before Every Flight: Sani-Cide EX3, a broad-spectrum disinfectant, is used by members of our Ground Operations and Provisioning Teams to clean all onboard lavatories and every tray table before every flight.
HEPA Air Filtration: Every aircraft is equipped with a sophisticated air recirculation system that introduces fresh air into the cabin while inflight, resulting in a complete exchange of cabin air every two to three minutes. We use HEPA filters onboard that remove 99.97% of airborne particles*—similar to the technology found in hospitals.
Airport Cleaning: We’re cleaning the ticket counters, gates, and baggage claim areas multiple times a day through manual processes. Additionally, Southwest is now utilizing electrostatic sprayers to apply a disinfectant to our airport areas at least once per week.
Sanitizing: Hand sanitizer is available at the check-in kiosks, ticket counters, and gates. Sanitizing Wipes are available for Customers onboard, upon request.
Physical Distancing: Southwest has committed to blocking middle seats through at least October 31
Source: Fox 45
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