The five airports operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), along with their terminals and fixed-base operators, have earned the gold standard of cleanliness, GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation, through the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA.
PANYNJ includes John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, New York Stewart Airport and Teterboro Airport. The certification makes PANYNJ the largest airport system to achieve GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation to date.
Dr Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, GBAC Director, said: “For facilities like international airports, GBAC STAR accreditation strengthens quality management systems that enables airport terminals to effectively identify, assess, control, and evaluate their operations associated with cleaning, disinfection, and infection diseases prevention. As more people are traveling, we are excited to help airports provide the assurance and establish confidence that their indoor spaces are safe and healthy using the 20 GBAC STAR Program Elements for continuous improvement.”
Huntley A. Lawrence, PANYNJ Acting Chief Operating Officer and Director of Aviation, added: “Our team is committed to working with our many business partners across five airports, 13 passenger terminals and nine fixed-base operators, to deliver the highest levels of safety for employees and our customers.
“While we have made significant improvements and enhancements following the implementation of a series of safety initiatives, we knew we needed independent verification of our collective, herculean effort. This accreditation from GBAC – the global gold standard for infectious disease prevention in public facilities – confirms our commitment to continuous improvement and world-class operations.”
Founded in 1921, PANYNJ is celebrating its centennial this year with events including a commemorative ceremony on 30 April. GBAC STAR accreditation aligns with the public transportation agency’s commitment to safety, the customer experience, sustainability, and operational excellence.
ISSA Executive Director, John Barrett, commented: “GBAC STAR accreditation continues to gain ground around the world because it provides clear direction on cleaning procedures, ensures leadership and frontline cleaning staff are committed to a higher standard of cleanliness, and gives the public confidence that these facilities are safe to enter.”
