Moderate snowfall in December saw airport operator BAA being criticized for its poor ability to clear snow and deal with passengers at London’s Heathrow airport after all operations were.
Even IATA’s CEO and Director General Giovanni Bisignani slammed management earlier this year, saying they were in need of training courses.
“Shoveling snow is not rocket science,” Mr. Bisignani said in a speech to the U.K. Aviation Club. “The inconvenience to passengers and the paralysis of the U.K. economy for days is not acceptable from any perspective. Shoveling snow is not the airline’s responsibility.”
The whole event has been a huge embarrassment to BAA. And today the airport operator released a carefully worded response to a “Heathrow Winter Resilience Enquiry” and announced a £50 milllion investment plan.
But could BAA be planning to pass on this bill, at least in part, to airlines?
Colin Matthews, the Chief Executive of BAA, described the recommendations as “challenging,” adding that the plans could only be achieved if airlines were on board. They will need to decide, for example, whether to have drive-through de-icers at the ends of runways and whether aircraft should be moved off stands so snow could be cleared more easily, Mr. Matthews said. He made it clear that de-icing planes is the responsibility of airlines.
Mr. Matthews said BAA’s only source of funding is from landing charges, raising the question as to whether he plans on asking airlines to contribute. They already shoulder the burden of looking after passengers when delays and cancellations occur.
Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Steve Ridgway, said: “Whilst extra investment in this capacity at Heathrow Airport is clearly a good thing, we would expect the bulk of this cost to be met by the airport operator. We want to be clear that there must be a requirement on BAA to take more responsibility and to deliver a consistent high-level service to airlines and passengers alike.”
Virgin’s view was echoed by Heathrow’s second largest operator, British Midland International. “BAA has to find the majority of funding for these improvements through greater efficiencies. Airlines and customers should not be asked to pay,” said a spokeswoman.
But don’t expect things to suddenly start running as smoothly as they do at Aeroports de Montreal, where none of its airports has been forced to close due to inclement weather for the last five years, despite an annual average snowfall of 2.2 meters.
Mr. Matthews said BAA wouldn’t be able to implement all the recommendations in time for next winter, with some taking a couple of years to come into force. And that’s going to be with the airlines on side.