United Airlines has expanded its United CleanPlus cabin cleaning regime with the addition of the EPA registered antimicrobial coating, Zoono Microbe Shield.
Created by Zoono Group Limited, a New Zealand Company and distributed in the US by MicroSonic Solutions, United is currently applying the coating each week on more than 30 aircraft to seats, tray tables, armrests, overhead bins, lavatories and crew stations and expects to add this latest measure to its entire mainline and express fleet before the end of the year.
The Zoono Microbe Shield works by bonding to surfaces and creating a protective layer that resembles microscopic pins once dry which rupture cell walls and membranes when microbes come in contact with them. The chemical is classified by the EPA as Category IV, which is the lowest level of toxicity. During an aircraft’s deep cleanings, United will use the NovaRover which is designed to apply a super fine mist of the antimicrobial that coats all surfaces in a 12-foot radius with a single spray. United will apply the antimicrobial to aircraft overnight every seven days using electrostatic sprayers to refresh and fortify the protective layer, while continuing to electrostatic spray disinfectant to the aircraft cabin before almost every departure.
United is currently applying Zoono Microbe Shield on aircraft at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and expects to expand it to each of its six other hubs and approximately 200 US airports where United aircraft remain overnight in the coming months. The airline plans to deploy NovaRovers at ten airports, including each of United’s seven hubs as well as Boston, Cleveland and Las Vegas.
