Boeing has launched an initiative designed to align the
airline industry on health safety protocols and to assuage flyer concerns.
The website for the Boeing Confident Travel initiative went
live over the weekend.
Through the program, Boeing is working with entities
throughout the air travel ecosystem to set procedural standards starting with
the departure airport and continuing through the flight and to arrival.
The program involves engaging airlines to share best
practices related to cabin cleaning and other health safety measures, said Jim Haas, head
of product development for Boeing commercial airplanes. In addition, Boeing has
put out a list of the specific cabin disinfectants it recommends that airlines
use.
The aircraft manufacturer also said it is exploring and
working on new cabin cleaning technologies.
One product is an ultraviolet (UV) wand. Cabin cleaners
would use the wand to expose tough-to-reach nooks and crannies in the flight
deck or the lavatory directly to germ-killing UV light. Haas said Boeing could
put the wand into production later this year or early next year.
Boeing continues to work on a self-cleaning lavatory that
makes use of UV light. The company has a flying prototype of the innovative
lavatory, but service introduction is likely still a couple years off,
according to Haas.
He also said that Boeing is working toward development of
new antimicrobial coating products that are applied to seats and other aircraft
surfaces.