Safe Travel Barometer, the world’s most comprehensive database of COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and traveler experience initiatives announced by suppliers which influences traveler decisions in the new normal, today announces an update to its Safe Travel Score for more than 400 airports worldwide.
The Safe Travel Score is an industry-first COVID-19 rating initiative, created in the wake of recovery from the pandemic. For airports, the Safe Travel Score is based on an independent audit of 29 traveler health and safety measures, along with traveler convenience initiatives and overall traveler experience announced by airports, regulatory and government authorities to alleviate traveler anxiety and boost confidence.
The Safe Travel Score Methodology has evolved since it was first announced in August 2020. The process now assigns variable weights to all the initiatives depending on their importance. These initiatives are assigned to one of the three sub-categories (see below) which in turn have differential weights assigned to them, basis upon their gravity in the traveler’s decision-making and actual journey. The aggregated weights by sub-categories are rolled-up to arrive at the final Safe Travel Score.
The various initiatives announced by airlines are assigned to one of the following sub-categories. These initiatives have either a direct or psychological impact on traveler booking and traveling decision in the ‘new normal’:
- COVID-19 Safety Protocols
- Traveler Convenience
- Traveler Experience
As Per the October 2020 assessment, UAE’s Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) led the global airport leaderboard with a Safe Travel Score of 4.4 out of 5 each. The UAE airports have taken several proactive measures, including the implementation of touchless initiatives, to enhance the passenger experience across the landside and airside areas. These include sensor-based check-in kiosks and biometric-based immigration systems to limit physical interactions and eliminate fingerprint scanning.
Major airports worldwide achieved similar Safe Travel Score because of the swift introduction of on-the-ground initiatives. Overall, 63 out of 424 airports (15%) evaluated were rated 4.0 or higher. Other airports which made it to the top tier of 4.4 rating include Qatar’s Hamad International (DOH), London Heathrow (LHR) and Singapore’s Changi Airport (SIN). Close at their heels are Greece’s Athens International Airport (ATH), China’s Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Boston-Logan (BOS), Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) and Ben-Gurion International Airport (TLV) all tied at 4.3 each.
Virendra Jain, Co-Founder and CEO, Safe Travel Barometer, states, “We are still in the nascent days of travel recovery, and airports worldwide continue their transformation into a literal safe passage for millions of travelers. By adding new layers of safety, convenience and experience initiatives into the already complex and logistical puzzle, airports are raising the bar for other travel industry categories.”
In addition to the updated ratings, STB announces a refreshed dashboard and supplier profile pages, with a more intuitive interface and the ability to derive meaningful comparisons across suppliers. Company profile claims on Safe Travel Barometer is now live too – complete a claim form (subject to verification) to directly update your organization’s COVID-19 safety, traveler convenience and service initiatives.
Safe Travel Score, Worldwide Airports, October 2020
| Airports | Country | Safe Travel Score* (October 2020) |
| Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) | U.A.E. | 4.4 |
| Dubai International Airport (DXB) | U.A.E. | 4.4 |
| Hamad International Airport (DOH) | Qatar | 4.4 |
| Heathrow Airport (LHR) | U.K. | 4.4 |
| Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) | Singapore | 4.4 |
| Athens International Airport (ATH) | Greece | 4.3 |
| Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) | China | 4.3 |
| Ben-Gurion International Airport (TLV) | Israel | 4.3 |
| Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS) | U.S.A. | 4.3 |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) | India | 4.3 |
* Safe Travel Score is based on an independent audit of more than 29 parameters applicable to an in-airport experience across airside and landside. It takes into consideration COVID-19 related hygiene and safety measures, traveler convenience and experience initiatives announced by airports for travelers, airline crew and related on-ground staff.
These include:
• COVID-19 Safety Protocols
• Traveler Convenience
• Traveler Experience
