Flying out of London? Here's what the airport is doing to address COVID-19

The London International Airport is ramping up how often it cleans public spaces because of COVID-19, but otherwise, president and CEO Mike Seabrook said it's "business as usual."

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak apandemic on Wednesday, before March Break, one of the busiest travel times of the year. Seabrook said airports across Canada, including London's, are getting regular updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada about what to do.

"We're taking extra steps for sanitizing, cleaning the washrooms, cleaning the seats, having hand sanitizer available for customers, little things like that," he explained.

That kind of cleaning happens every one or two hours and hasn't required the airport to hire more custodial staff, said Seabrook.Airlines are also increasing the frequency and depth of the cleaning they do inside planes, he added.

London airport takes precautions for coronavirus

5 years ago

Duration 1:48

The airport's president and CEO, Mike Seabrook, says they've increased the frequency of cleaning in the terminal building and that airlines are keeping an eye out for passengers who appear to be sick.

"All the aircraft have HEPA air filters. So it's a method of screening out microbial particulars that are in the air, similar to what they have in hospitals. They're on aircraft so it does filter out a lot of contaminants that get airborne so those things are being done on a regular basis."

On top of that, Seabrook said airlines have put additional screening measures in place.

"If they see someone sick or not feeling well, there are some questions that get asked. And if there are continuing difficulties with that individual, then they'll be referred to the Canadian Border Services Agency and then Health Canada."

Although big airports are starting to feel the impact of COVID-19, Seabrook hasn't noticed a change in the number of customers booking flight out of London and said the numbers "seem to be strong" ahead of March Break.

The airport offers various flights to cities within Canada, as well as the United States, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Jamaica. Canada hasn't issued any active travel notices for those destinations, but says there are COVID-19 cases being reported in the US, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

One mom, heading to Orlando with a group of young cheerleaders and parents for the UCA International All Star Championships, said the outbreak is in the back of her mindbut she wasn't going to let it stop the trip.

"We're going to try to be washing our hands frequently and just wiping things down in the hotel rooms, trying to avoid handshakes," said Josephine Prince. "The girls have been looking forward to this trip for a very long time. We spent a lot of money on it, so we're going."