Why Indoor Air Quality for Airports Is an Infrastructure Priority in the GCC & MENA

Airports are among the most complex and heavily occupied public buildings in the GCC and MENA region. They operate 24/7, accommodate millions of passengers annually, and bring together travellers, airline crews, security personnel, retail staff, and ground operations teams - all within sealed, continuously air-conditioned environments.

In such settings, indoor air quality (IAQ) is not simply a comfort issue. It is a public health safeguard, an operational necessity, and a reputational risk management tool.

The Airport Risk Landscape in the GCC

GCC airports rank among the world’s busiest international hubs, with long dwell times in terminals, lounges, immigration halls, and boarding areas. Climatic conditions require doors and façades to remain closed for most of the year, while high external dust loads place additional strain on ventilation systems.

These conditions increase the accumulation and recirculation of:

• Airborne pathogens from global passenger flows

• Fine particulates and desert dust

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fuel, cleaning agents, and retail fit-outs

• Bioaerosols in densely occupied spaces

With constant global exposure, airports represent high-risk convergence points for respiratory illness transmission.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters in Airports

Indoor air functions as a continuous exposure pathway across terminals, security zones, lounges, jet bridges, and staff areas. Poorly managed IAQ can:

• Facilitate the spread of airborne infections

• Increase exposure to particulates and pollutants

• Affect passenger comfort, stress levels, and satisfaction

• Increase absenteeism among airport and airline staff

• Create operational disruptions during peak illness periods

For international airports, air quality failures can quickly escalate into brand, safety, and confidence issues — particularly in post-pandemic travel environments.

The GCC Airport Operating Environment

Airports across the region typically feature:

• Extremely high and fluctuating occupancy

• Continuous mechanical ventilation and cooling

• Long operating hours with limited shutdown windows

• Growing scrutiny around passenger experience, sustainability, and resilience

Improving IAQ supports not only public health objectives, but also on-time performance, workforce well-being, and passenger perception.

IAQ as a Public Health, Operational, and Sustainability Asset

Advanced IAQ strategies enable airport authorities to:

• Reduce airborne transmission risk in high-density spaces

• Protect frontline staff with prolonged exposure

• Enhance passenger comfort and dwell experience

• Reduce dependence on excessive outside air in extreme climates

• Support energy efficiency and decarbonisation goals

When integrated into HVAC design or retrofit strategies, IAQ improvements can be delivered without increasing energy demand - a critical consideration for large-scale terminals.

Policy & Planning Considerations for Aviation Authorities

Civil aviation authorities and airport operators may consider:

• Embedding IAQ performance criteria into terminal design and upgrade standards

• Treating air quality management as core operational infrastructure

• Supporting independently tested technologies suitable for large-volume spaces

• Aligning IAQ initiatives with sustainability frameworks and Net Zero targets

  
  

Conclusion: Clean Air Is Essential to Safe, Confident Travel

Airports are gateways - not only between countries, but between public health systems.

For GCC and MENA airports, maintaining high indoor air quality is a strategic investment in passenger confidence, staff protection, operational continuity, and global reputation.

In modern aviation infrastructure, clean air is not optional. It is essential to safe, resilient, and trusted travel.