Delta doubles cabin cleaners in 'pit stop' revamp, buys kits to test for germs

Delta has doubled its staffing to handle revamped pre-flight "pit stops" for deeper cleaning and wants to ensure that tray tables and restroom door handles are germ-free with a new testing process, an executive said. Airlines' efforts to reassure travelers of their safety during the pandemic have spurred a behind-the-scenes scramble to complete the enhanced cleaning that they are promising without sacrificing turnaround times, a cornerstone of profitability, once more passengers take to the skies. "We've done quite a lot of change to our turn process," the head of Delta's new Global Cleanliness division Mike Medeiros said in an interview detailing the airline's strategy for "turns" -- the time a plane spends on the ground between flights. Depending on the aircraft's size, Delta is deploying at least eight pre-flight cabin cleaners, up from three to five previously, and has adopted a new "pit stop mentality" based on industrial engineering studies into the extra resources required for cleaning each plane type, he said. After cleaners spray with disinfectant and wipe down high-touch surfaces, a flight attendant and gate agent walk the cabin together to inspect. If the cabin is not up to par, they call back the cleaners. "Even if that means taking a delay to the flight," said Medeiros, who is among managers who receive daily cleanliness reports in their inbox based on customer surveys taken after every flight.<br/>