Coronavirus Update from Heathrow Airport
Following our decision to cancel the forum and our Passenger Services Group blog on the Coronavirus pandemic, we asked for a written update from Heathrow Airport on the impact of the virus and the steps they are taking to protect staff and passengers, build business resilience and support airlines and supply chain.
Please see the update below from Heathrow Airport.
Impact of Coronavirus
The threat of Coronavirus is an increasing challenge for the UK and we are working day and night to ensure Britain’s front door is open and safe for our people and passengers. We understand that passengers at Heathrow are concerned about the measures we are putting in place to protect the public and our colleagues, and we would like to reassure you that we are working closely with Public Health England to implement these measures.
COVID-19 is a global issue, that ports across the UK are having to respond to, based on the advice of Public Health England and the welfare of our passengers and colleagues is our top priority.
Working with Public Health England to protect colleagues and passengers
The measures Public Health England have put in place at airports across the UK to respond to Coronavirus include enhanced monitoring procedures of flights from affected locations, the presence of doctors and additional colleagues, and the provision of information leaflets, including a public information campaign including signage across all areas of our terminals.
A dedicated Public Health England team is operating at Heathrow to implement their enhanced monitoring measures and respond to any incidents at the airport, and we are working closely with them to ensure our colleagues are following their latest guidance in its entirety to protect themselves and our passengers.
The current processes include an early warning system allowing airline crew to report any illness on board flights ahead of landing. We have provided training and additional equipment to a small number of colleagues who may be called to the scene of a suspected case. We have also provided a dedicated, isolated terminal pier area to be used by Public Health England medical professionals while liaising with suspected cases.
Our Airport Fire Service have been provided with additional Personal Protection Equipment and training in case they are required to act as first responders to suspected cases.
In line with Public Health England’s advice, we have enhanced thorough cleaning processes and provided over 200 hand sanitiser dispenser locations across the airport for our colleagues and passengers. Colleagues have been provided with briefings and a Q & A on Public Health England advice. We have also shared all of our advice from Public Health England with our partners operating at the airport (e.g., retailers, airlines etc) We continue to advise anyone working or travelling through the airport to follow the Government’s advice to maintain good hand hygiene.
As the situation continues to develop, more information can be found on https://www.heathrow.com/customer-support/faq/coronavirus-covid-19, an information site prepared based on, and following, the advice of Public Health England and the UK Government.
Business resilience & supporting our airlines and supply chain
The impact of Coronavirus is a significant challenge for the global aviation industry including Heathrow and our colleagues, airlines, suppliers and fellow airports. We are taking immediate steps to safeguard the financial resilience of our business including the protection of jobs, whilst providing relief to our airline partners and wider industry colleagues.
We are pushing for the slot coordinator to suspend the 80:20 slot rules up until May to enable airlines to ground aircraft without being penalised and waiving aircraft parking fees which will allow airlines to hold grounded aircraft at Heathrow free of charge.
We are maintaining a commitment to the 30-day prompt payment code with Heathrow's direct supply chain, whilst encouraging our direct supply chain to also maintain their payment terms – an important measure to protect small businesses.
This is a quickly evolving situation and we stand ready to take any further and necessary measures to support our colleagues and industry partners as this situation develops.