Globally, air travel is down over 55 percent compared to 2019 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Flight bookings are currently on a slight upswing, however, as countries gradually reopen their borders.

As flights return, the challenge of maintaining a virus-free environment includes, not just the health of the travelers themselves, but airports, transport stations and cargo as well. Wayakit, a KAUST-funded startup, has partnered with Swissport, who will use the startup's innovative disinfecting products on international aircraft and buses at the Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh airports.

"The aviation industry is severely affected by the consequences of the pandemic." Gerold Tumulka, CEO of Swissport Middle East said. "Swissport is helping to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus by ensuring that the aircraft of our customer airlines are disinfected after each flight, so that passengers regain confidence in air travel and will start to fly again. With Wayakit we have found a local partner that develops biotechnology based disinfectants that are fast acting, certified, naturally degradable and can be used in aircraft." 

The Wayakit difference

Founders Luisa Javier and Sandra Medina, both current Ph.D. students at KAUST, wanted to develop a powerful, non-toxic cleaner which is also environmentally friendly. Their antiviral formulation, sold as Wayakit, eliminates 99.999% of bacteria, common viruses and the SARS-CoV coronavirus strain. It works on any type of surface and, while other disinfectants take up to 30 minutes to work, Wayakit guarantees efficacy in just 30 seconds. The short disinfecting time makes it ideal for fast-paced environments, such as airports.

Listen to an interview with Wayakit co-founders Luisa Javier and Sandra Medina

"When the pandemic started, as scientists and entrepreneurs, we started thinking about how we could stop the spread of COVID-19," said Javier, Wayakit co-founder and CEO. "After months of hard work, we designed our natural, non-toxic formulation, outperforming other products as it eliminates 99.999% of coronavirus in only 30 seconds. We are proud that our product will be used by Swissport to protect travelers."

The Wayakit formula was created at KAUST. As biotechnology researchers and scientists, the Wayakit co-founders saw an opportunity to innovate the processes and chemical compounds to create a superior product that is highly efficient and environmentally friendly.

An entrepreneurial ecosystem

The partnership with Swissport is an essential development for KAUST and Saudi Arabia's developing startup ecosystem. The University's mission is to plant the seeds of an "innovation ecosystem" in the Kingdom—a network of startups, entrepreneurs, investors and others, all committed to helping great entrepreneurial ideas succeed.

Swissport workers disinfect a transport bus with Wayakit products. File photo.

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