Traditionally, when we consider airline operations, we think of the minutiae of flight schedules, passenger comfort, or baggage handling. However, there is a lesser-known hurdle that airlines frequently deal with: pest control.
From cockroaches that stow away in food carts to mosquitoes that migrate from continent to continent, the aviation industry faces vastly different pest management challenges than most people traveling in a jetliner will ever be aware of. This battle waged behind the scenes of our airborne economy needs specialized methods to get rid of pests in Kansas City and safety aboard while avoiding disruption to tight turnarounds.
How do they handle these crawling, flying, and biting stowaways trying to turn aircraft into their own personal transportation systems? Let us find out below.
Do Airlines Also Have Pest Problems?
Yes, airlines indeed have pest problems, and often, they are more common than passengers understand. Twin-hulled aircraft are perfect accidental portals for pests traveling between countries and continents, providing some peculiar difficulties for the aviation sector.
Take British Airways, which in 2018 grounded a plane in South Africa when it found a rat onboard. Much money was wasted when the plane was extensively fumigated due to the delay. In a related incident, a 2022 Singapore Airlines flight was delayed when passengers saw cockroaches in or around the food service area, prompting immediate intervention by pest control before the flight could be cleared to depart.
These are not isolated incidents. Roughly 4% of all flight delays are related to pest-related sanitation issues according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), costing the industry an estimated $120 million a year. From rodents gnawing on critical wiring to insects soiling food preparation spaces, these unwanted guests pose both safety risks and PR headaches for airlines around the world.
How Airlines Fight Pest Problems?
Just like us, airlines need to take extra precautions to fight pest problems. Some ways include:
- They Have Rapid Response Protocols
In the event of a pest sighting, airlines initiate rapid response procedures that allow the matter to be resolved with minimal disruption. The average pest-related delay fell from 3.2 hours in 2015 to 1.7 hours in 2023, thanks in large part to better response procedures.
Delta Air Lines has developed a “24-hour pest response team” that can be dispatched to any airport in its network, carrying specialized equipment and treatments that can be used aboard aircraft. This team can complete a comprehensive treatment of a plane as part of standard overnight maintenance, usually avoiding the need to change flight schedules.
- Implementing Strict Measures
Airlines have strict preventive measures to prevent a pest infestation before it happens. Most major airlines also perform inspections on a weekly basis, with an emphasis on galleys, waste-disposal areas , and cargo holds — areas in which pests frequently take shelter. American Airlines, for its part, uses specialized inspection protocols, which involve checking behind panels and under carpeting, where insects can take up residence. Regularly going in there will catch problems early rather than the full-blown infestation.
- International Regulance
Airlines are faced with very complex international regulations regarding pest control. Aircraft on international routes are faced with 3.5 times as many pest control inspections as aircraft that operate purely domestically.
This department monitors pest control regulations in 160+ destinations and ensures that treatments performed on Emirates aircraft meet the highest standards in the world. Since the system was adopted in 2019, this proactive approach lowered their regulatory compliance issues by 86%.
How Pest Control Companies Help?
Professional pest control companies provide critical support to airlines through specialized aviation pest management programs. From customized treatment options to constantly being available for any emergency, pest control services help airlines ensure they remain pest-free and avoid any reputation damage that may be caused by pest spotting in the airline.
