The Four WHO Aircraft Disinsection Methods
The World Health Organization’s Aircraft Disinsection Methods and Procedures, 2nd edition recognizes four ways to disinsect an aircraft. They differ in when the treatment happens, whether passengers are aboard, and how long it counts for. Here is how they compare, and where our service sits.
| Method | How it works | Passengers aboard? | Counts for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-embarkation | Aerosol applied to the empty aircraft at the departure port, before boarding, at the last port before the destination country | No. Our service. | One flight sector |
| Residual | Long-lasting surface treatment applied on the ground with the aircraft empty | No | Extended period set by the authority |
| Pre-departure | Aerosol applied after passengers have boarded and doors are closed, before push-back | Yes | That flight |
| On-arrival | Aerosol applied after landing, before disembarkation, under the supervision of the arrival authority | Yes | That arrival |
Top-of-descent spraying, in which the cabin was treated in flight before descent, is retired under the WHO 2nd edition and replaced by pre-departure. Each destination decides which methods it accepts and on what conditions. Sources: WHO, Aircraft Disinsection Methods and Procedures, 2nd edition (2023); Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Aircraft disinsection.
Empty aircraft, before boarding, at the departure port.
The empty aircraft is treated with an approved aerosol at the last port before the destination country, before passengers board. The aircraft is ventilated and boards after the required wait. Passengers never see the treatment. It counts for that flight sector and produces a certificate for the arrival authority. This is the method we perform, at your US departure airport, nationwide.
Our pre-embarkation service →Passengers seated, aerosol in the cabin.
Pre-departure is performed after boarding, with doors closed and stowage open, before push-back. On-arrival is performed after landing, before anyone disembarks, under the supervision of the arrival authority; it is what happens to an aircraft that arrives without a verified treatment, and the operator can be charged for it. Both are recognized methods. Both involve spraying a full cabin.
A surface treatment on the ground.
Residual disinsection is a longer-lasting insecticide applied to interior surfaces with the aircraft empty, under conditions the destination authority sets. It is listed here because it is one of the four WHO methods. It is context, not something we offer.
Your destination decides. We check it for you.
Every country that requires disinsection publishes which methods it accepts and under what conditions, and those rules change. Rather than guess from a table, tell us your route and we will confirm exactly what your aircraft needs and whether pre-embarkation at your US departure airport is the answer.
Frequently asked questions
How many aircraft disinsection methods does the WHO recognize?
Four in current use: pre-embarkation, residual, pre-departure and on-arrival. They are described in the WHO Aircraft Disinsection Methods and Procedures, 2nd edition (2023).
What happened to top-of-descent spraying?
Top-of-descent, in which the cabin was sprayed in flight before descent, is retired under the WHO 2nd edition and replaced by pre-departure spraying at the last port before the destination.
Which method does Pure Aircraft Disinsection perform?
Pre-embarkation: the empty aircraft is treated with a WHO-approved aerosol at your US departure airport before boarding, and a certificate is issued for the flight.
Do all countries accept every method?
No. Each destination decides which methods it accepts and on what conditions. That is exactly why we ask for your route before confirming anything: we check what your destination accepts for your flight.
Which method keeps passengers out of the cabin during treatment?
Pre-embarkation and residual are both performed with the aircraft empty. Pre-departure and on-arrival are performed with passengers seated.