Universal Launches COVID-19 Standards Program for Preferred Suppliers across its 100 Top Destinations
Initial program covers Ground Handling, Inflight Catering, and Ground Transportation
Houston (May 14, 2020) – Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. announced that it has launched a new COVID-19 standards program for preferred suppliers across the top 100 destinations where its trip support customers travel. The initial program covers three core logistical components within a mission that physically touch passengers and crew — FBO ground services, inflight catering, and ground transportation.
“As the only mission management company that also operates and controls our own global divisions in FBO ground services, inflight catering, and ground transportation, we have an intimate and unique understanding of what COVID-19 best practices should be followed by our third-party providers within each of these domains,” said Greg Evans, Chairman, Universal.
“Universal and our preferred providers have a shared responsibility to do everything in our power keep our staff and mutual customers safe from potential exposure to COVID-19, so we felt that implementing this program of standards was an important measure to take.”
Universal’s own global divisions in FBO ground services, inflight catering, and ground transportation divisions are also taking additional measures:
Universal Aviation – FBO Ground Services: “Across our Universal Aviation FBO network, we’re rethinking the entire ground experience,” said Adolfo Aragon, SVP, Universal Aviation. “Passengers and crew are less interested in facility amenities now, and they are more concerned with ground time velocity and reducing risk of exposure. At each of our locations, we’ve been focusing extensively on passenger and crew traffic flow analysis to increase speeds where we can, reduce possible points of contact once they leave the aircraft, and perform before-and-after sterilization of physical touchpoints that we control.”
Air Culinaire Worldwide – Inflight Catering: “Within our owned-and-operated kitchens, we’ve scrutinized the chain of custody for the food we serve our clients—from sourcing and receiving, to preparing and delivery—in order to develop our enhanced health and safety standards,” said Paul Schweitzer, SVP Global Sales and Marketing. Sav Mongelli, VP of Guest Services & Global Network added, “We’ve taken these standards to our global partner network, and we now have over 1000 inflight caterers around the world who have pledged to follow them in order to mitigate risk of contamination and spreading COVID-19 and other diseases.”
Universal-Drivania Chauffeurs – Global Ground Transportation: “At Universal-Drivania Chauffeurs, we now have COVID-19 safety profiles completed for more than 500 ground transportation providers around the globe. We can tell you the exact procedures each are following, and confirm they have all met our minimum requirements,” said Frank Davidson, SVP Global Sales, Universal-Drivania Chauffeurs. “We are also conducting pre-trip reviews on every booking made through our platform to ensure that the vendors we are trusting our customers with are complying with our standards.”
For more on this program, visit https://universalweather.com/covid19.
Additional information can be found at:
- https://en.drivania.com/blog/health-and-safety-standards
- https://universalaviation.aero/covid19
- http://www.airculinaireworldwide.com/covid19/
About Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc.
You’re counted on to make every trip a success, but you don’t have to do it alone. Reduce your operating risk and stress by accessing a global community of resources dedicated to helping you prepare for unforeseen events, navigate the ever-changing regulatory environment, and manage your stakeholders’ expectations. Keep your organization moving and ensure mission success with complete and customized trip management services – coordinated through your dedicated trip support team, or online and on your Apple® iPad® via uvGO.
For more information, contact worldwide sales at +1 (800) 231-5600 ext. 3300 (North America) or +1 (713) 944-1622 ext. 3300 (Worldwide).