Camfil: High-Efficiency Filtration is Essential for Airport Air Quality and Health

December 18, 2025 at 12:00 AM•2 min read

Camfil urges global airports to adopt zone-specific, high-efficiency filtration systems to combat aircraft exhaust and traffic pollutants affecting

Key Points

1Camfil highlights that airports face a "perfect storm" of pollutants, including VOCs, CO, and fine particulates from aircraft and ground traffic.
2Poor IAQ negatively impacts passenger comfort and poses long-term respiratory and cardiovascular risks for airport employees.
3Camfil recommends zone-specific filtration, advising MERV 14A-16A for high-density security areas and molecular filtration for exhaust-heavy zones like hangars.
4Airport facility managers must adopt a proactive strategy involving air quality audits and disciplined HVAC maintenance schedules.

Camfil, a major provider of advanced air filtration solutions, is calling on global airport operators to prioritize high-efficiency filtration systems to mitigate the negative effects of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) on passenger health, employee safety, and business reputation. Airports are uniquely challenged by a "perfect storm" of pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and fine particulate matter generated by aircraft, ground support equipment, and heavy surface traffic. This pollution often bypasses standard HVAC systems, leading to health issues like fatigue and headaches for passengers, and long-term respiratory and cardiovascular risks for airport staff.

To effectively address this complex environment, Camfil recommends tailoring filtration strategies based on specific airport zones. For high-density areas like security and customs, filters rated MERV 14A to 16A are advised to manage bioaerosol risk. In general areas like check-in and baggage claim, a minimum of MERV 13A is required. Furthermore, zones exposed to high levels of vehicular exhaust, such as ground transportation areas and maintenance hangars, necessitate dual-stage filtration combining particulate and molecular (activated carbon) filters to remove jet-fuel vapors, soot, and chemical fumes.

Camfil supports these strategies with a suite of products, including the ASHRAE 241-compliant AQ13 panel filter and heavy-duty V-bank designs like Durafil ES3. The company emphasizes that facility managers must move beyond reactive maintenance by performing regular air quality audits, reviewing HVAC configurations, and setting disciplined maintenance schedules. Adopting this proactive, life-cycle-based infrastructure mindset is crucial for prioritizing air quality as a core component of operational excellence.