Glasgow Airport | Paisley Scotland

The strict travel restrictions put in place by various governments in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have, understandably, resulted in the widespread grounding of flights.

With many of our airline partners having completed their repatriation flights and in line with passenger demand, there are now only a limited number of services available from the AGS group of airports (Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton). In light of this and to protect the health and wellbeing of all the staff who work so hard to keep our airports running, we will be introducing temporary restrictions on our operations from 1 April 2020.

To support our country’s response to this accelerating pandemic, Aberdeen and Glasgow airports will continue to support essential services. These will include lifeline links to remote communities in the Highlands and Islands, NHS and air ambulance services, and helicopters for the oil and gas industry. Southampton Airport will similarly support lifeline services to the Channel Islands. Our airports will also cater for those airlines who are continuing to operate. At this stage, it is difficult to say how long these measures will remain in place, however, we will continue to follow all government advice and keep them under constant review.

We are facing extremely challenging times and like all organisations, we have a duty of care to our staff, our business partners and to all those who use our airports. Introducing temporary operating restrictions will allow us to significantly reduce the number of staff who must travel to work.

Alongside this, we are working with our people and their trade union representatives to ensure those employees who will be furloughed during this period will have access to the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. We have also proposed other measures to support the business at this time including temporary pay cuts for all staff including our Board and leadership team, an end to bonus payments, the option for staff to take unpaid leave and the option for reduced working hours.

These have been difficult decisions to take, however, I am absolutely clear they will enable us to protect jobs, protect the health and wellbeing of our employees and ensure AGS Airports is in a strong position to aid our country’s recovery when we emerge from this crisis.

27/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

AGS AIRPORTS PLEDGES £40K TO

SIMON COMMUNITY’S HOMELESS APPEAL

AGS Airports, which owns and manages Glasgow Airport, has responded to the #GiveHope appeal launched by homeless charity, Simon Community Scotland, by pledging £40,000 which will be used to support some of the most vulnerable people in society during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The funding will be used to support the purchase of hotel accommodation for people who are homeless where they will be able to stay in single rooms, allowing them to self-isolate if necessary whilst accessing the range of services offered by the Simon Community.

The charity launched the appeal in response to a lack of suitable shelter facilities within Glasgow, several of which had to close due to health concerns.

Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports, said: “We initially contacted the Simon Community with the offer of using our second terminal after partially closing our buildings at Glasgow Airport. This is due to the lack of passenger demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When it became clear this wasn’t a viable option and we learned of the very real plight facing the city’s homeless community, many of which have underlying health conditions, we quickly took the decision to redirect funds from our charitable FlightPath Fund.

“This is an extremely challenging time for businesses across the UK. We are all taking steps to protect our businesses and our employees, but also want to help those who really need it most and do whatever we possibly can to protect the most vulnerable in our society. The Simon Community does amazing work and everyone at AGS is pleased this money will help support the homeless at a time when it is needed most.”

Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive of Simon Community Scotland, added “It is exactly this type of rapid humanitarian response that will assist us to not just provide comfort, dignity and somewhere safe for people to be, but it will undoubtedly save lives by protecting some of the most physically vulnerable people in Glasgow right now. We are hugely grateful for AGS Airports’ rapid response to our appeal and we hope many more come alongside them in helping us help those in the worst possible circumstances as this crisis grows”.

26/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

Blog, Business, Glasgow, Glasgow Airport, Newsletter, Paisley, Paisley Jobs, Paisley Photographs, People from Paisley, Press Release

AGS Airports Ltd statement on Flybe

A spokesperson for AGS Airports which owns and manages Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, said: “The loss of Flybe is a devasting blow for the airline’s employees and the tens of thousands of passengers who relied on its routes. It unfortunately brings into stark focus the fragility of the UK’s domestic connectivity. Earlier this year the UK Government committed to levelling up all regions of the UK by conducting a review of regional connectivity. It’s vital this work is progressed as a matter of urgency and reforming Air Passenger Duty (APD) is part of that review. We are already speaking to other airlines about backfilling the routes operated by Flybe for which there is clear demand. In the meantime, the advice to passengers who were scheduled to travel with Flybe is not to travel to the airport and to visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for further advice at www.caa.co.uk/news.

Government response to the collapse of Flybe

A Government spokesperson said:

“Following a commercial decision by the company, Flybe has ceased trading.

“We recognise the impact this will have on Flybe’s passengers and staff. Government staff will be on hand at all affected UK airports to help passengers.

“The vast majority of Flybe routes are served by different transport options, and we have asked bus and train operators to accept Flybe tickets and other airlines to offer reduced rescue fares to ensure passengers can make their journeys as smoothly as possible.

“We know this will be a worrying time for Flybe staff and our Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service stands ready to help them find a new job as soon as possible.

“We are working closely with industry to minimise any disruption to routes operated by Flybe, including by looking urgently at how routes not already covered by other airlines can be re-established by the industry.

“Through the reviews of regional connectivity and Airport Passenger Duty we have announced, we will bring forward recommendations to help ensure that the whole of the UK has the connections in place that people rely on.

“Flybe’s financial difficulties were longstanding and well documented and pre-date the outbreak of COVID-19. We are well prepared a potential outbreak and this week we have set out an action plan with details of our response.”

05/03/2020/by Brian McGuire

Introduction of new recycling stations offer sustainable solution for disposal of thousands of coffee cups –

Glasgow Airport’s new recycling stations have arrived with a sustainable solution for the disposal of single-use coffee cups in the terminal.

Three stations have been introduced in the James Martin Kitchen, Panopolis and Starbucks catering outlets in the main departures area with a further four stations set to be installed.

The stations feature three collection tubes to allow passengers and staff to the recycle single-use coffee cups, lids and their contents where previously they could only be disposed of in general waste bins.

Glasgow Airport introduced the first station in James Martin Kitchen last summer and since its introduction more than 12,000 cups have been recycled.

Kirsty Webster, Glasgow Airport’s Sustainability Assurance Manager, said: “As a responsible business we are committed to reducing our environmental impact. As disposable cups are composed of paper with a thin plastic liner to keep them from leaking, recycling them requires a specialised process.

“The remaining liquid has also been a barrier to recycling as if there’s nowhere to hand to empty the contents of the cup, they are often tossed in the general waste bins.

“These stations provide both staff and our customers with the means to dispose of their leftover drink and the disposable cup in a sustainable manner and they are proving really popular.”

The new recycling stations were introduced as part of Cup Movement® in Glasgow, a city-wide initiative from environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful. It is aimed at reducing the waste associated with single-use cups through cross-sector reuse and recycling solutions. Glasgow Airport joined Cup Movement in the summer, gaining access to Scotland’s first cup collection and recycling service delivered in collaboration with Simply Cups.

Kirsty added: “We are proud to be part of the Cup Movement in Glasgow, which ensures that through the support of Keep Scotland Beautiful and Simply Cups we are able to make use of the appropriate collection facilities for the segregated cups used across the airport.”

It is estimated that more than 500 million single-use cups are used in Scotland each year with just 4% being recycled with the remaining amount either going to landfill or littering the country. Around 95 million are used in the Greater Glasgow area each year.

Paul Wallace, Campaigns and Social Innovation Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, commented: “Transport hubs like Glasgow Airport are a key part of our take-away coffee culture, with thousands of travellers reaching for a drink in a disposable cup each day, as they wait for their flight to board.

“We are delighted the airport has made a success of its cup recycling efforts and look forward to working with Kirsty and the team to further reduce single-use cup waste as part of our Cup Movement.

“Having an initiative like this in a key hub in and out of Glasgow helps send a strong message to locals and visitors alike about the importance of waste reduction. Every step counts as we transition towards lower impact ways of living.”

The introduction of the recycling stations is one of a series of sustainability-focused and waste management projects underway locally at Glasgow Airport.

Last year Glasgow Airport handed out reusable water bottles to over 5000 staff with the help of pupils from Sunnyside Primary School, known as the Ocean Defenders.

Glasgow became the first UK airport to introduce a fleet of full-electric buses to its long-stay car park operations and also replaced eight diesel airfield vehicles with more fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4x4s.

Thousands of pieces of crockery and cutlery that were no longer required by the airport’s Frankie & Benny’s restaurant and due for disposal were donated to Starter Pack Glasgow. The charity helps new tenants, many of whom were previously homeless, get started with household items they may struggle to afford when moving into a new home.

An unused airfield passenger bus that would have been scrapped was also donated to the charity Help the Homeless Glasgow to be converted into a mobile support unit.

To find out more about Cup Movement visit: keepscotlandbeautiful.org/cup-movement

12/02/2020/by Brian McGuire

Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund will award £10,000 each to four environmental projects to mark a decade of supporting local communities

Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund has today (Thursday 30 January) pledged £40,000 to support four local sustainability-themed projects.

To celebrate 10 years of the FlightPath, the Fund’s committee is urging local groups, charities and organisations to submit applications to support sustainability-themed projects aimed at improving the environment in the communities neighbouring Glasgow Airport and beyond.

A £10,000 award grant will be made available to projects based in each of the four local authority areas – Renfrewshire, Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire – supported by the FlightPath Fund during the last decade.

Glasgow Airport’s Sustainability Assurance Manager Kirsty Webster has joined the FlightPath Fund’s committee this year to help identify award submissions that best demonstrate a positive environmental impact.

Chair of the FlightPath Fund Archie Hunter said: “Supporting sustainability-themed projects and engaging with local community groups and organisations that focus their efforts on improving the environment has been a core value of the FlightPath Fund for the last 10 years.

“During this time, the FlightPath Fund has supported a number of environmentally-focused projects and organisations. These include the purchase of an electric vehicle for a car club, buying polytunnels for growing groups and support for community gardens and the preservation of local greenspaces.

“For several years now the FlightPath Fund has also made it possible for hundreds of school pupils to take part in the Clyde River Foundation’s tremendous Flying Fish programme, which teaches young children about the health and biodiversity of their local waterways.

“To mark our 10-year anniversary, we wanted to go further by making £10,000 available to a group, club or charity from each of the four areas working on a sustainability-focused project that shows their dedication and commitment to the improving or enhancing the local environment.

“The FlightPath Fund will continue to support and champion the many wide-ranging and diverse groups and projects it was set up to support in 2010, and I would encourage them to keep the applications coming.”

The FlightPath Fund was established in 2010 and since then more than 600 groups have been awarded over £1.6m with three key areas of focus – education, employment and the environment.

Mark Johnston, Glasgow Airport’s Managing Director, said: “The Fund was set up in 2010 to help support our neighbouring communities so that they could share in our success. It remains a source of great pride to myself and my colleagues that during the last decade Glasgow Airport has played an active and positive role our local communities.

“The FlightPath Fund committee’s decision to introduce a £40,000 Sustainable Communities Challenge is to be commended and supports Glasgow Airport’s continued commitment to balance the clear social and economic we bring as one of the region’s biggest employers with our climate change responsibilities.”

If you are a local club, charity or community group applying for the Sustainable Communities Challenge, your project should meet the following criteria.

To be considered a project must:

Create a significant and sustainable benefit to the community or local environment

Benefit a significant number of people

Applications must:

Provide clear evidence that the project will fulfil a local need

Provide clear evidence of the financial viability of the project

To find out more about applying for funding support, visit: www.glasgowairport.com/community and download the application form.

30/01/2020/by Brian McGuire

FlightPath Fund award will see pupils from seven schools take part in the Engineering Development Trust’s Go4SET programme –

Pupils from seven local secondary schools will take part in a national Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) competition thanks to a £7000 award from Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund.

The project, run by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), sees teams of six S2 pupils participate in the 10-week regional Go4SET programme. During this time, they will work with a company mentor to produce a report, model and a five-minute presentation on one of three STEM-related projects focusing on sustainability and the environment – Fit for the Future, Smart Surroundings and Future Proof or Designing Building for Climate Change.

As part of the project, the pupils will also take part in a site visit to their mentor’s company to see STEM application in the workplace.

Go4SET gives the pupils the opportunity to develop skills, inform subject choice and change perceptions about STEM by raising awareness of how studying these subjects can lead to a rewarding career. The pupils taking part in the Go4SET programme will gain an SQA Steps to Work Award SCQF Level 4 and a Bronze Industrial Cadet Award.

Support from the airport’s FlightPath Fund has ensured that 42 S2 pupils from the following secondary schools in Renfrewshire, Glasgow, East and West Dunbartonshire participate in Go4SET:

Bearsden Academy Gleniffer High School

Trinity High School Turnbull High School

St Peter the Apostle High School Clydebank High School

Drumchapel High School

Archie Hunter, Chair of the FlightPath Fund, said: “Our science, engineering and technology sectors face significant challenges in terms of skills and people shortages.

“STEM-sector related employment in Scotland is set to grow by 4% by 2027, so projects such as Go4SET are absolutely vital in ensuring these challenges can be met.

“The FlightPath Fund focuses its community investment in a number of areas including education, the environment and employment. Go4SET ticks each of these boxes and the £7000 award from the Fund will ensure that the pupils from the chosen secondary schools in our local communities gain an insight to the exciting STEM-related career opportunities that are out there.”

Research has shown that the exposure of younger age groups to STEM related employers, encourages more students to choose post-16 courses in these subject areas, eventually leading to the study of STEM degrees at university.

A regional section of the Go4SET programme was launched today (Thursday, January 23) at the University of the West of Scotland campus in Paisley.

Flora Lewis-Gotts, Partnership Manager for Scotland at EDT, said: “We are delighted that the Glasgow Airport FlightPath Fund committee has chosen to support the EDT Go4SET programme this year.

“The programme got underway today with a launch event at the University of West of Scotland, Paisley, where the students met their sponsor and company mentor who will guide them through the project and take them on a site visit.

“We are looking forward to welcoming the students back to UWS in May for the Celebration and Assessment Day, when one team will be crowned regional winner and go through to the National Final at the Glasgow Science Centre in June.”

In 2019, the FlightPath Fund award more than £110,000 to over 70 local clubs, community groups and charities. This amount was also boosted by a record £20,000 donated by Glasgow Airport passengers via six currency collection globes based in the terminal.

To find out more about applying for funding support, visit: www.glasgowairport.com/community,

26/01/2020/by Brian McGuire

Additional Monday to Friday flight will bring extra 26,000 seats

Glasgow Airport passengers travelling to and from Dublin will enjoy even more choice following Aer Lingus Regional’s decision to introduce an extra weekday flight this April.

The move will see services operated by the Irish carrier increase from five to six flights Monday to Friday and boost capacity by an additional 26,000 seats.

Operated by Aer Lingus Regional franchise partner Stobart Air, the Dublin service is popular with leisure and business passengers travelling between Glasgow and the Republic of Ireland’s capital city. The additional service has been timed to compliment onward connections to popular North American destinations including New York, Boston and Chicago.

The additional Monday to Friday flight times are as follows:

Dublin-Glasgow
- Departs DUB 0735
- Arrives GLA 0855

Glasgow-Dublin
- Departs GLA 0930
- Arrives DUB 1050

Glasgow Airport’s head of aviation Paul White said: “The additional week-day flight brings a 17% increase on what is a hugely-popular service. This is tremendous news for passengers travelling between both Glasgow and Dublin, whether it is for business purposes or to enjoy a city break in each destination.

“The addition of this service also guarantees greater choice and flexibility for passengers making onward connections to a number of North American destinations from Dublin.

“The Republic of Ireland’s capital city remains one of our busiest routes with more than 170,000 passengers making the short trip across the Irish Sea via Aer Lingus in 2019. Likewise, Glasgow continues to be a very popular destination for Irish visitors, so this latest announcement is welcome news indeed.”

A spokesperson at Stobart Air said: “Stobart Air is pleased to increase capacity on the Glasgow-Dublin Aer Lingus regional route. Aer Lingus Regional’s Glasgow to Dublin service has proven extremely popular with both business and leisure travellers, and 2019 represented the fourth consecutive year of growth on the route.

“The increase in frequency is a direct reflection of customer demand and is in keeping with the strong performance of our extensive route network connecting Scotland and Ireland. We are therefore very pleased to be able to offer our customers greater choice and convenience on the route and to build on our great relationship with Glasgow Airport.”

The additional flights start on Monday 6 April and are on sale now. Visit www.aerlingus.com for more information.

23/01/2020/by Brian McGuire

Iconic Airbus A380 to return in 2020

Airline partner Emirates has confirmed that the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft will return to Glasgow in 2020.

Emirates_1

The huge double-decker aircraft, which has a wingspan of almost 80 meters and can carry over 500 passengers, will return to the airline’s popular Glasgow-Dubai route from March.

Emirates plan to operate the iconic A380 on a year-round basis on the double daily service, Scotland’s busiest long-haul route. One of the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft fleet will continue to be used on the route.

Mark Johnston, Managing Director at Glasgow Airport, said: “Emirates’ decision to operate a year-round daily service using the Airbus A380 is tremendous news and underlines the airline’s continued commitment to Glasgow Airport and its passengers.

“We invested significantly in our international pier infrastructure to vastly improve the experience for our long-haul carriers and passengers last year. This included the building of Scotland’s first and only triple airbridge, which not only supports a wide range of aircraft types but is perfect for servicing the A380.

Emirates_1

“The decision to make such a significant investment was a bold one, however, the return of this iconic aircraft to daily service underlines our continued ambition and is testament to the Dubai route’s enduring popularity with our customers.

“This decision marks yet another milestone in a relationship with Emirates that dates back to 2004, when the first ever route between Scotland and the Middle East was launched at Glasgow Airport.

“Our Dubai double daily is Scotland’s leading long-haul route, so it’s fitting that the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft will play a part in the unique customer experience offered to Emirates’ passengers at Glasgow Airport.”

An Emirates spokesperson said: “Emirates can confirm that it plans to operate a year round daily Airbus A380 service between Glasgow and Dubai, beginning end of March 2020.”

Since the introduction of the Glasgow-Dubai service in 2004, over 4.8 million passengers have travelled between the two cities and further afield through Emirates’ network of 158 destinations.

Thousands of people gathered at the airport to see the enormous aircraft make a special appearance on April 11 2014 to mark the 10^th anniversary of the Emirates route at Glasgow. The aircraft returned on April 16 last year and made Scottish aviation history when it entered into regular service for the first time on the Glasgow route.

The A380 flying between Glasgow and Dubai has a three-class configuration, with 14 private suites in First-Class, 76 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 399 spacious seats in Economy Class.

In addition to transporting passengers, Emirates’ SkyCargo on the A380 will continue to carry key Glaswegian exports across the world, including Scottish whisky, salmon, cheese, chocolate and oil well equipment. The most popular destinations for Scottish salmon, shellfish and oysters include China and Hong Kong, while Scottish Whisky is most frequently exported to South Africa, Singapore, Sydney and Korea.

09/01/2020/by Brian McGuire

Blog, Business, Glasgow, Glasgow Airport, Newsletter, People from Paisley, Press Release, Renfrewshire

GLASGOW AIRPORT PASSENGERS RAISE £20,000 FOR LOCAL CAUSES

Currency collection globes raised a record amount for FlightPath Fund

Glasgow passengers raised a staggering £20,000 for the airport’s FlightPath Fund in 2019.

The record amount was collected through the six FlightPath Fund collection globes positioned across the airport in which passengers can donate any left-over currency.

All monies raised through the globes are added to the £140,000 annual total donated by Glasgow Airport to the FlightPath Fund, which supports a diverse range of local groups, charities and organisations across the Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East and West Dunbartonshire local authority areas.

The total amount for the year came from 115 different global currencies including Brunei and Jamaican Dollars, Sudanese Pounds, Kenyan Shillings, Chilean Pesos, Sri Lankan Rupees and Cambodian Riel.

The top five currencies collected were:

UK Pound
The Euro
US Dollars
UAE Dirhams
Swiss Francs

Out with the weird and wonderful currencies of the world, several old coins were collected including pre-1947 Shillings, which have a 50% silver content, and a Half Sovereign 22-carat coin valued at £101. One very generous passenger also deposited a £50 note into one of the globes.

Glasgow Airport’s Managing Director Mark Johnston said: “Our FlightPath Fund collection globes normally raise anything between £12,000 and £15,000 a year, so to collect over £20,000 is fantastic news.

“A big thank you must go to our very generous passengers. Their generosity this year and in previous years is absolutely vital in ensuring the FlightPath Fund continues to support the hundreds of community groups, clubs and charities that neighbour the airport.”

Set up in 2010, the FlightPath Fund has awarded more than £1.6 million in support to over 600 local charities, clubs and organisations. In 2019 alone, over 70 community-based organisations received over £110,000 in financial support.

This included a £14,000 award to the Ocean Youth Trust to support four voyages for youth groups in each of the local authority areas served. The Fund also provided £8000 to support the Flying Fish eco-learning primary school project run by the Clyde River Foundation.

To find out more about the FlightPath Fund, or to apply for funding support, visited: glasgowairport.com/flightpath-fund/

08/01/2020/by Brian McGuire

More than 260,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport during the festive period

Glasgow Airport is preparing for a busy festive period as hundreds of thousands of travellers take to the skies over the Christmas holidays.

More than 260,000 people are expected to pass through the airport over the next two weeks (Friday, December 20 – Friday, January 3) with many heading for some winter sun to destinations including the Canary Islands, Dubai, Malaga and Alicante, or city and ski breaks to Dublin, London, Frankfurt, Geneva and Grenoble.

Many passengers who live and work elsewhere in the UK or overseas will also make their way home to celebrate Christmas and New Year with friends and relatives.

Today is expected to be the busiest with more than 20,000 passengers travelling through the airport. On Christmas Day almost 2500 passengers will travel on 14 flights between Glasgow and Amsterdam, London and Dubai.

In the run up to the busy festive getaway, Glasgow Airport would like to reminding travellers to pack their Christmas gifts carefully, and to place them in their hold luggage rather than carry them as hand luggage where possible. Passengers should also check with their airlines if they are permitted to take Christmas crackers, which if being carried as hand luggage must remain in their original packing.

Mark Johnston, Managing Director at Glasgow Airport, said: “Christmas and New Year is always special and there’s certainly a feel-good atmosphere in the terminal as thousands of passengers travel through the airport to be with their loved ones.

“It’s also a particularly busy time in the terminal for our staff, airlines partners, caterers, retailers and baggage handlers, who are all gearing up to welcome thousands of passengers keen to get home for the holidays.

“Our advice to everyone – whether they are travelling home or jetting off for a winter break – is to double check that all liquids carried in hand luggage are within the 100ml limit. This includes presents such as toiletries and alcohol.

“To be on the safe side, and to help reduce waiting times at security, we recommend that all of our passengers pack their gifts in their hold luggage where possible. If carrying gifts in hand luggage, we would ask passengers not to wrap them until they have reached their destination as our security procedures may require that they be searched.

“On behalf of everyone at Glasgow Airport, I would like to wish our passengers a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year when it comes.”

23/12/2019/by Brian McGuire