The Hampshire-based company, Procius, who pioneered background service checks for airside employees, has urged airlines and retail companies involved with the opening of the new Terminal 2, The Queen’s Terminal, at Heathrow Airport in June to get the staff airside passes sorted out now, well ahead of opening day!
Many companies, when it came to the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 (a bit of a disaster there!), hadn’t got the relevant approval for their employees airside passes – including those for flight crews, baggage handlers and retail staff – which caused a lot of problems. It is reported that up to 25,000 people will be employed at the new terminal, of which 18,000 will be working airside.
The MyCheck system was specifically designed and developed by Procius to process airside passes, typically handling from 1,000 to 2,000 people checking in at any one time. The system is able to manage workflow, timing and priorities, and has been adjusted to incorporate new regulations. In the wake of 9/11 increased security rules for background checking aviation workers, they were the first outsourced company to provide an airside background check solution and their customer list is impressive – DHL Aviation, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, United Airlines, Titan, Monarch Airlines and Jet2 all use Procius’s technology.
Nick Trollope at Procius highlighted the serious and costly consequences suffered by many companies when it came to the opening of T5; needless to say, he’s urging companies and airlines to be proactive and plan ahead. He advised: “If you haven’t got your flight crew, IT and engineers, baggage handlers, retail and catering staff approved, then now is the time to act.”
Wise words ahead of the June opening of Heathrow’s ‘royal’ terminal opening; let’s hope all companies and airlines involved in T2 take note and get themselves organised.