Virus-free future in sight
Aircraft cabins will soon be made safe and germ-free even more efficiently, thanks to new ultraviolet (UV) technology. The innovative solution from Swiss-based start-up UVeya uses UV rays to disinfect the aircraft’s interior and thereby ensure that its passengers and crew are safe and secure on board. Two trials of the new approach have already been conducted, on Embraer E-Jet aircraft which Helvetic Airways made available for the purpose. dnata, one of the world’s leading ground services providers, aims to offer this forward-looking cabin cleaning solution to airlines and further partners throughout its global handling network.
Substantial interest from airlines
Following the two successful trials at Zurich Airport, dnata now intends to add the new cabin disinfection robot to its services portfolio. Interest has already been expressed in the new product by a number of airlines. “What we’re seeing is a clear need among air carriers to make these essential disinfection processes both efficient and sustainable,” says Lukas Gyger, Chief Operating Officer at dnata Switzerland AG. “And helping our industry to provide safe regional and global connectivity that complies with all the latest health standards and provisions has always been one of dnata’s key missions.”
The new disinfection robot should be primarily used during night stops, to complement the rigorous hygiene procedures that are already in place throughout the air transport sector. For Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways, the potential benefits are clear. “Our aircraft disinfection requirements are extremely high,” he explains. “And if this new UV robot can help to optimize the existing manual cleaning and disinfecting processes, then this is a hugely promising and forward-looking technology.”
In making its Embraer E-Jet aircraft available for the recent Zurich trials, Helvetic Airways has made a major contribution to the new UV robot’s development. Further clarifications will be required, however, along with the corresponding certification from Embraer as the aircraft’s manufacturer, before the new robot technology can be more permanently adopted.
Bright prospect
The new UV technology for disinfecting aircraft cabins is being jointly developed by dnata and UVeya. “What we’re aiming to deliver is a pragmatic, robust and safe cabin disinfection solution that can be rapidly deployed in the airline industry and in other transport sectors,” explains Tristan Chevignard, one of the new robot’s co-developers. The new technology uses zero chemicals but kills 99% of all viruses and germs. It will also render an Embraer E-Jet E2 germ-free in just eight minutes. Which is a bright prospect indeed for tomorrow’s transport world.
Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways provides a range of short- and medium-haul air services from various Swiss airports. The carrier deploys its Embraer E190-E2, E195-E2 and E190-E1 aircraft on scheduled, charter and wet-lease flights. At least six Helvetic Airways Embraer E190-E2s and E195-E2s are being operated in winter 2023/24 and summer 2024 on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines in summer 2023 under a long-term wet-lease agreement.
The Helvetic Airways workforce numbers over 510 employees. The company also has its own maintenance hangar and operation at Zurich Airport, which is further home to its corporate head office. The airline offers innovative part-time employment models to its cockpit and cabin personnel. For its cabin attendants these include ‘Ski&Fly’, ‘Fly&Study’ and the fully flexible ‘Fly your way’ model. Details of current vacancies at Helvetic will be found at career.helvetic.com.
Helvetic Airways has been working closely with Horizon Swiss Flight Academy AG (www.horizon-sfa.ch), which is based in Kloten, Switzerland, since 2008. Both companies are part of the Helvetic Airways Group, which is domiciled in Freienbach, Switzerland.
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