Glasgow Airport to invest £500k in new look drop-off zone
Investment pushes cost of failed attack to £2 million
BAA Glasgow is to invest more than £500,000 to improve drop off facilities at Glasgow Airport in the wake of this year’s failed attack.
Work is about to begin on a project to widen the drop-off zone on St Andrew’s Drive to increase capacity, install new shelters along St Andrew’s Drive and build a covered walkway to the main terminal. The area will also be re-surfaced to allow easy access for trolleys.
New processes for passenger pick up are also being considered, including improved facilities for disabled passengers. Currently, 'blue badge' holders can pick-up or drop-off in car park 2, directly opposite the terminal, with up to 30 minutes free access.
The investment brings the total cost of the attack to BAA to more than £2 million.
Gordon Dewar said: “We believe that the improvements we are making represent a balanced and proportionate response that combines tougher security measures with safe and secure access for passengers.
“We are grateful to our passengers for the patience and understanding they have shown over the past few months. Our first priority, following the attack, was to safeguard the safety and security of our passengers. In doing so, we inevitably had to compromise on some aspects of customer service, and we appreciate that the facilities currently in place along St Andrew’s Drive are not up to the standard we would like.
“This is inevitable given that the area was never originally designed as a drop off zone.
“However, over the course of the next few weeks, we will be working flat out to improve facilities for passengers using St Andrew's Drive for drop-off. At the same time, we are looking at ways to improve the passenger pick-up experience.
“Our aim is to provide as safe and convenient a service as possible within the context of the new security constraints we now face.”
BAA Scotland’s communication team received a Gold Award from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) for its handling of the failed attack on Glasgow Airport. The award was presented at last Friday’s CIPR PRide Awards in Glasgow.
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