The Window Seat

Aug. 25, 2020 - It’s hard to see everything that is being done to keep CLT clean so passengers can have the confidence to fly again. We cannot say “thank you” enough to the teams of people overseeing the cleaning effort and those on the terminal floor working hard 24 hours a day for our passengers.

But we try every day to remember to express gratitude. From the multiple cleanings to all the people it involves, a lot of hard work, elbow grease and dedication goes into cleanliness at the Airport.

ABM, our commercial janitorial service, has nearly 300 employees who work full-time throughout the week to keep the CLT terminal clean. Working in shifts that range from 35 people to nearly 75 people, they clean 24 hours a day. The third shift focuses on deep cleaning and uses electrostatic spray to clean the public areas of the terminal. The spray is essentially an electrically charged mist sprayed over an area to help better disinfect hard to reach places. Their work is easier to do overnight when there are fewer people in the terminal.

Daily, the cleaning crews go through 128 microfiber cloths, 1,050 pairs of gloves and 192 Blue Huck super absorbent towels.

The health and safety of our customers and the nearly 20,000 people who work in the Airport have always been important to us. Even more so now because of COVID-19. Crews are focused on daily cleanings and deep cleanings but due to COVID-19, they give extra attention to high touch points like seats and handrails. A team of six dedicated to deep cleaning and disinfecting high touch points can be found sporting blue, reflective vests as they work. They, along with other cleaning staff, also make sure to wear masks and gloves and follow COVID-19 guidelines as they work.

ABM also manages housekeeping in the many buildings and offices that support CLT and the Aviation Department, part of the City of Charlotte, which owns the Airport.

If you want to know before you fly what’s being done, we have compiled everything you need on our website. Visit our Keep it Rockin' page for information as well as resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mecklenburg County Health, and others.

Please help us keep you and others safe and healthy. While traveling at CLT remember to keep these COVID-19 safety tips in mind:

• Wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available
• Wear a face covering. It’s required by a governor’s mandate in North Carolina and airlines require them to board a flight.
• Social distance by maintaining six feet of space from others

We are asking our customers and employees to do their part. Each person’s travel needs and experiences are going to be different. But working together we can keep the Airport safe for everyone.