Heathrow Airport deploys cleaning robots to kill viruses at night

The London aviation hub is also installing UV disinfectant technology to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission

The UK, with nearly 300,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, lifted quarantine-on-arrival rules last week for people landing from 74 countries and territories

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A passenger arrives at London Heathrow. The airport is taking measures to disinfect surfaces and retrain workers as “hygiene technicians” to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infections. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:10pm, 15 Jul 2020Updated: 12:13pm, 15 Jul 2020

Heathrow Airport is introducing cleaning robots and other measures to try to reduce the risk of virus transmission at the British aviation hub as the country eases travel restrictions.

The robots use ultraviolet rays to kill viruses and bacteria at night, according to a statement from the airport, which did not say how many of the machines were being deployed.

The airport is also installing UV technology to disinfect escalator handrails, and self-cleaning antiviral wraps are being fitted to often-touched surfaces such as security trays and lift buttons.

Passengers wearing face masks sit with their luggage at Heathrow airport, west London. Photo: AFP

Heathrow said 100 workers are being retrained as “hygiene technicians” to monitor the effectiveness of the new technologies and answer passenger queries.

The UK, with nearly 300,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 45,000 deaths, lifted quarantine-on-arrival rules last week for people landing from 74 countries and territories.

Heathrow said on Monday that the number of people passing through the airport was down 95 per cent in June from a year earlier.