Qatar Airways has become the first global carrier to operate Honeywell’s ultraviolet (UV) Cabin System version 2.0, further advancing its hygiene measures on board. The latest version of the Honeywell UV Cabin System, owned and operated by Qatar Aviation Services (QAS), has been introduced to add flexibility, improve reliability, and mobility, according to the Doha-based airline. 

In addition, the Middle East carrier notes that it offers “ease of use compared to its predecessor, with extended UV wings that treat both narrow and wide areas on board, reducing the overall disinfection time”. This version also includes a hand wand that disinfects areas such as the cockpit and other smaller spaces and is non-motorised, leading to less battery consumption. In clinical tests, UV light has been shown to be capable of inactivating various viruses and bacteria when properly applied.

After receiving 17 units of the latest version of the Honeywell UV Cabin System V2, the devices have all undergone comprehensive testing on board Qatar Airways’ aircraft. The airline aims to operate them on board all aircraft turnarounds at Hamad International Airport .

Commencing on the initiative, Qatar Airways group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “As the first global airline to operate the latest version of the Honeywell UV Cabin System V2 on board our aircraft, it is significantly more user friendly and technologically advanced. QAS has continued to maintain our impeccable service during the outbreak of Covid-19, specifically supporting with repatriation flights and increased cargo workloads.”

He continued: “As the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious Skytrax five-star Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating, the first airline in the Middle East to begin trials of the innovative new IATA Travel Pass digital passport mobile app, and most recently, the first airline in the world to operate a flight with a fully vaccinated crew and passengers, it is in our core to continuously be at the forefront of innovation and to keep implementing the latest safety and hygiene measures on board and on the ground.”

Special measures 

Qatar Airways’ aircraft will continue to be regularly disinfected using cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The latest version of the Honeywell UV Cabin System V2 will be utilised as an additional step after manual disinfection, to ensure the very highest standards of cleanliness.

The airline’s on-board linen and blankets will continue to be washed, dried and pressed at microbial-lethal temperatures, while its headsets are rigorously sanitised after each flight. These items are then sealed into individual packaging by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves.

Qatar Airways’ aircraft also feature highly advanced air filtration systems, equipped with industrial-size HEPA filters that remove 99.97 per cent of viral and bacterial contaminants from re-circulated air, thereby providing effective protection against infection.

At the end of March, Qatar Airways announced a summer schedule that will see the airline operate more than 1,200 weekly frequencies across 23 destinations in Africa, 14 in the Americas, 43 in both Asia-Pacific and Europe, plus 19 in the Middle East. Many cities will be able to avail themselves of a schedule offering daily, or even more frequent, services.