Last update April 29th, 2020 – 9:31 A.M.
The safety, health, well-being and security of our passengers, guests and employees is extremely important to the Yuma International Airport family. Our team offers the important information below you will find helpful if traveling through Yuma International Airport.
The Yuma County Airport Authority (YCAA) is in regular active contact with the Yuma County Health Department, Arizona Department of Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), our airline partner American Airlines, and various airport industry leaders to be ready to respond to recommendations.
The Yuma County Health Department provides coronavirus updates through this link: Yuma County Health Department Coronavirus
Your well-being is important to us, so we are working diligently to enhance your travel experience in response to COVID-19. To watch a video from American Airlines, please click here: American Airlines Video
In May, we will begin to distribute sanitizing wipes or gel and face masks to passengers, as supplies allow. Our flight attendants will be required to wear face masks on all flights, beginning May 1st, 2020.
In the weeks ahead, we are expanding our cleaning program by wiping down customer high-touch surfaces (seatbelts, armrests, window shades and seatback screens) before every flight. Plus, we're implementing enhanced cleaning in our team member areas (galley, cockpit and jumpseats).
Our HEPA air-filters remove 99.97% of airborne particles in the aircraft, working to ensure the air you breathe is clean.
And, we are working with airports to clean high contact surfaces (kiosks, gate counters and ticket counters) multiple times a day.
We're here for you and want to ensure that you have peace of mind when you travel with us ? because, you are why we fly.
Currently, there are no travel restrictions to or from any nonstop destination served by airlines at Yuma International Airport but travelers should know there are occasional flight cancellations. As shown in the national news, there are a significant reduction in flight frequencies as well as stipulated requirements as you fly between states or other countries, be educated on where you are flying to and what you can expect. To see the current status of today’s flights go to: American Airlines Flight Status
Additionally, in response to reservations demand, airlines are adjusting their schedules for the future. For the latest information regarding future schedules for Yuma International Airport (YUM), which is subject to change, you can follow us on social media.
Airlines are making modifications to their procedures regarding change fees and cancellations. Many changes can be done online by passengers who purchased their tickets directly from their airline. Passengers who booked their flights elsewhere will have to make changes with that third party provider. Airlines report their phone reservations systems are being overwhelmed resulting in extraordinarily long wait times. The airlines ask that only passengers traveling within the next 72 hours call. To make changes on American Airlines flights, please visit their website.
One of the more significant changes is that TSA is now permitting passengers to carry-on liquid hand sanitizer containers up to 12 ounces until further notice. These containers larger than the standard allowance of 3.4 ounces of liquids will need to be screened separately, which will add some time to the checkpoint screening experience.
Otherwise, the following precautions remain in effect at TSA checkpoints:
To help reduce risk of spreading viruses, passengers are reminded to keep safe distances while waiting in the security queue and to secure personal items normally carried in their pockets (phone, wallet, keys, coins, etc.) in the carry-on they put though the X-ray system rather than putting them loosely in a bin.
Updated information about the TSA and the coronavirus is HERE.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at this time has not ordered routine health screening of passengers. Yuma Fire Department, which responds to medical situations at YUM, has been provided with the latest guidance and is prepared to address specific concerns when advised to do so by the CDC. Flight crews and airport personnel are required to contact the CDC if an individual is sick with specific symptoms.
So far the impacts have not increased the time it takes to check in and go through TSA security.
Health officials and the CDC recommend that healthy people not wear face masks. Surgical face masks are designed to keep potential viruses to the person wearing it and should only be worn by those who are sick or exhibiting flu-like symptoms to keep from spreading viruses to others.
Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes, according to the CDC. On average, cabin air is completely refreshed 20 times per hour (compared with 12 times per hour in a typical office building). Although the risk of infection on an airplane is low, travelers should avoid contact with sick individuals and continue following hygiene standards to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
In response to passenger demand and public health recommendations to limit person-to-person contact, the following changes have been implemented at Yuma International Airport:
At Yuma International Airport our maintenance and custodial team take pride in maintaining the airport terminal to the highest standards (which has been recognized by passengers from all over the world!). We know this is no time to waiver from those high standards. The following are some of the prescribed precautions the YCAA is taking for the safety of our passengers and employees.
These precautions from health officials have been shared with Yuma International Airport employees and tenants and is considered recommended advice for all:
Want to know if something you heard about COVID-19 is fact or fiction? The Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, has answers on the following link: FEMA Rumor Control
Use the link below to see current information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19)