On November 24, 2020, Noi Bai International Airport was officially awarded Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) by Airports Council International (ACI).

The accreditation recognizes Noi Bai International Airport's commitment to implementing effective health and safety measures and maintaining safe airport operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The AHA certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

With this achievement, Noi Bai International Airport became one of 118 airports worldwide to receive AHA accreditation.

The AHA certificate presentation ceremony was held virtually on the morning of November 27, 2020, at the Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC), Terminal 2, Noi Bai International Airport.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Antoine Rostworowski, Senior Vice President, Programmes and Commercial Services at ACI. Vietnamese representatives included Mr. Dinh Viet Thang, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Quoc Phuong, Deputy General Director of Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV); representatives from Noi Bai International Airport Border Gate Police, Noi Bai International Airport Customs Branch, the Northern Airports Authority, and the Hanoi Center for Disease Control; as well as a large number of Noi Bai International Airport employees.

ACI's Airport Health Accreditation programme was established to help airports worldwide demonstrate to passengers, employees, regulatory authorities and governments that the health and safety of passengers are their top priorities. Through the implementation of specific health and safety measures, the programme supports global efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

To obtain AHA accreditation, Noi Bai International Airport underwent a rigorous assessment of its health and safety measures. The assessment covered cleaning and disinfection procedures, physical distancing measures, employee health protection programmes, operational layouts, passenger communication measures, and passenger facilities and equipment. All these aspects were required to comply with the highest standards of the civil aviation industry.

"Noi Bai International Airport is providing a safe airport experience for all arriving and departing passengers, in accordance with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery Guidelines and the recommendations of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART)," stated Mr. Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World, in a letter sent to Noi Bai International Airport on November 24, 2020.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Mr. Antoine Rostworowski, ACI Senior Vice President, Programmes and Commercial Services, congratulated Airports Corporation of Vietnam in general and Noi Bai International Airport in particular on their remarkable efforts to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining operations and continuing to develop.

"We are delighted to learn that ACV has completed the necessary preparations to commence construction of Long Thanh International Airport this year. We also congratulate Noi Bai International Airport on consistently ranking among the leading international airports handling more than 15 million passengers, with particularly strong development in recent years.

"We have worked closely with Noi Bai International Airport to assess the measures implemented to ensure passenger safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. We highly appreciate the airport's thorough and meticulous preparations in complying with the extensive measures and standards established under our AHA assessment programme. This is the only programme implemented in cooperation with ICAO, and all participating parties have had to go through a truly demanding process," Mr. Rostworowski shared.

"Following Noi Bai, several other airports in Vietnam are continuing to undergo our assessment programme. We hope they will receive their certificates soon," he added.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Vietnam and around the world, airports operated by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) have implemented operational safety protocols and procedures designed to protect air passengers during the pandemic.

In particular, Noi Bai International Airport introduced a comprehensive range of preventive measures, including:

• Conducting regular and continuous cleaning and disinfection, with frequency adjusted according to developments in the pandemic;

• Installing thermal imaging camera systems to effectively monitor passengers' body temperatures;

• Introducing automated check-in and boarding systems to minimize direct physical contact;

• Installing air-conditioning systems incorporating TCACS technology to reduce the transmission of airborne bacteria and viruses;

• Installing transparent protective barriers at check-in counters and boarding gates throughout the terminals;

• Requiring all passengers and employees to wear face masks;

• Providing appropriate personal protective equipment for frontline employees;

• Installing hand sanitizing stations throughout the airport;

• Implementing extensive passenger communication campaigns to ensure strict compliance with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations;

• Arranging flight operations flexibly to facilitate physical distancing while strictly complying with regulations issued by the Government, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Presenting the AHA certificate to Noi Bai International Airport, Mr. Dinh Viet Thang, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, stated:

"This accreditation is not only recognition from ACI but also an acknowledgment by the international community of the effective measures undertaken by ACV in particular and Vietnam's state regulatory authorities in general to ensure safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19."

On behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, Mr. Thang expressed his appreciation to the relevant ministries, government agencies, Hanoi municipal authorities and state regulatory bodies operating at Noi Bai International Airport for their support and assistance in enabling the airport to successfully complete ACI's assessment programme.

"The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam will continue to support Airports Corporation of Vietnam in actively and extensively participating in ACI's activities and programmes, particularly those related to airport operations and aviation safety," Mr. Thang affirmed.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of ACV and Director of Noi Bai International Airport, stated:

"Receiving AHA accreditation is the result of the tremendous efforts made by all employees of Noi Bai International Airport in implementing COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

"The AHA accreditation will serve as an additional source of motivation for our employees to continue improving and strengthening measures to protect the health and safety of airport personnel and passengers, while reinforcing passenger confidence in using airport services."

Speaking on behalf of Airports Corporation of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Phuong, Deputy General Director of ACV, remarked:

"With the growing network of AHA-accredited airports, we hope this accreditation will provide a foundation for national regulatory authorities and governments to consider reopening international air routes between accredited airports, establishing safe travel corridors and helping mitigate the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global aviation industry."