JetBlue is trialling a new ultraviolet cabin cleaning system to keep passengers safe from viruses while flying.
The UV Cabin System, developed by Honeywell, is a portable ultraviolet-c light (UVC) device, that can cover an entire mid-sized airline cabin in less than 10 minutes. During the trial, JetBlue will be gauging the system’s efficacy, while continuing other cleaning methods.
The airline has deployed eight of the devices, which have been put into service as part of its Safety from the Ground Up programme at two of its airports – John F. Kennedy International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International. These two locations have started a 90-day pilot programme for JetBlue to evaluate the Honeywell solution.
“With the safety of our crew members and customers our first priority, JetBlue’s Safety from the Ground Up initiative is maintaining a layered approach to safety by ensuring healthy crew members, providing flexibility, adding space, reducing touchpoints, and keeping surfaces clean and sanitised,” said Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “As we look to add additional layers of protection by utilising cutting-edge technology, we have identified the Honeywell UV Cabin System as a potential game changer when it comes to efficiently assisting in our efforts to sanitise surfaces onboard.”
The Honeywell UV Cabin System is roughly the size of an aircraft beverage cart and can easily be transferred on and off the aircraft to maximise fleet efficiency. The extendable arms deliver treatments to both sides of an aisle at once, minimising aircraft downtime between flights.
“JetBlue took an immediate interest in this new product when we demonstrated it for them just a few weeks ago, and now JetBlue is receiving our first systems,” said Mike Madsen, President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace. “We’ve ramped up production quickly on the UV Cabin System, and our company is working on a range of solutions to help make passengers more comfortable about flying.”
