At the same time, with the backdrop of the global pandemic and China’s Covid zero tolerance policy, the operating environment for the latest Games was vastly different from the previous one, presenting massive challenges for all parties involved.
In line with the “Closed Loop” system as mandated by the government, all Games participants and domestic workforce in contact with Games participants (including BGS staff) were subject to daily health monitoring and testing, and were only allowed to move between permitted destinations in dedicated transport.
At the airport, special pandemic prevention and control measures for passengers, airline crew and aircraft were developed by the authorities in consultation with various other stakeholders (including BGS).
In addition to the usual flight handling procedures, BGS helped passenger handling staff to deal with passengers and airline crew through the new airport processes, and to ensure compliance with the mandatory aircraft disinfection requirements.
Even prior to the Winter Olympic/Paralympic flights, all BGS staff handling international flights were already required to be kept in separate isolated accommodations after working hours, away from the general public (including family members and other colleagues) for up to 21-28 days at a time. Compounding the challenge of rostering staff willing to enter the Closed Loop, is the limited airport accommodation and transportation, which resulted in a diminished pool of staff to handle international flights.
Arrival baggage also had to be individually sorted for easy identification and collection by the passengers. All staff were attired in the mandatory 6-piece hazardous material suits comprising of gloves, goggles, facemasks, protective suits, shoe covers, and head covers.
BGS worked with numerous airlines, ministries, embassies and other agencies on operational details for each VVIP flight and handled two thirds of the VVIP flights at Beijing. There were 32 heads of foreign states, heads of government, members of the Royal Family and heads of international organisations attending the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Customised solutions were created based on each airline’s requirements and protocols.
A representative from Swiss International Air Lines, said: “We are fully aware that the provision of services under the conditions of the pandemic was not easy…it is good to have BGS as our reliable partner at Beijing Capital International Airport…you deserve the Gold Medal in Passenger and Aircraft Handling.”
Click here for the full article by Hsu Tien Chi (BGS Senior Manager Commercial and Operations).
