Passenger Services Group: Update on Coronavirus

For the foreseeable future our lives are going to be very different from usual as we adjust to living with the threat of Coronavirus. These are very trying times for many of us and particularly those who work in the aviation industry.

Quieter skies for some mean the risk of reduced incomes and job security for others and whatever your view on aviation it’s important to think of how worrying this is for people who work at, around and through Heathrow.

You will not be surprised that the HCEB Passenger Services Group pay very close attention to health, safety and security at the airport. Over the last few weeks we have monitored the steps which Heathrow have taken in response to the advice from Public Health England and the UK Government. The airport have established a dedicated page detailing the mitigations they have put in place to minimize risk.

As part of our regular work we scrutinize, discuss and feedback to Heathrow their terminal metrics which cover everything from security wait times to toilet cleanliness. Over the last few years we’ve seen those metrics on terminal cleanliness reach new highs. And as passenger representatives we validate these both landside and airside during our regular inspections. With Coronavirus cleaning has increased and hand sanitizers placed throughout the terminals

We also get to see behind the scenes and observe the behaviours which are instilled into all of those that work throughout the airport – they cover customer service as you would expect but with strong emphasis on security and safety – including hygiene. As an organisation they take both passenger and staff welfare seriously.

During the weeks and months ahead we will continue to ask questions and give constructive feedback. Depending on official UK Government advice our April meeting may well be a conference call but many of us will continue to use the airport albeit with less frequency. Hopefully by October normality will have resumed when we will do our annual review of winter preparedness to ensure airport and airlines are ready to respond to all the weather brings.

If you have any questions about our work representing the passengers who use Heathrow please email us. info@hceb.org.uk

Finally we wish everyone on and off airport the best of luck during this time. 

Stay well and look after those around you.

Mark Izatt
Chair of the Passenger Services Group