Latest news with #WilsonJames
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Wheelchair user left on a plane for almost two hours after landing
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, who uses a wheelchair, was left waiting for more than 90 minutes for assistance after all other passengers had disembarked a 13-hour flight from Singapore to Heathrow. Gardner criticised Heathrow Airport for its poor service towards disabled passengers, questioning why they should receive worse treatment than others, and noted similar incidents have occurred in the past. According to Gardner, a Wilson James operations manager informed him that two of the five medical lifts had gone out of service overnight, contributing to the delay. A Heathrow spokesperson apologised for the delay, citing a medical emergency that reduced available vehicles, and offered to cover the cost of Gardner's additional waiting time for his car as a gesture of goodwill. Gardner praised the British Airways crew for their support, with the captain refusing to leave the plane while Gardner was still on board.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
‘Get a grip!': Disabled BBC correspondent slams Heathrow after long wait to disembark plane
At the end of a flight of over 13 hours from Singapore to London Heathrow, the BBC's Frank Gardner was kept waiting for over an hour and a half for assistance after all the other passengers had left the aircraft. The security correspondent has used a wheelchair since he was shot six times in an Al Qaeda gun attack in Saudi Arabia in 2004. The British Airways Boeing 777 arrived from Singapore at 6.45am, and parked at a remote stand at Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 5. Other passengers walked down the stairs to waiting buses. Normally ground staff working for Wilson James, a contractor used by Heathrow airport, meet aircraft at remote stands to help disabled passengers leave the aircraft using a medical lift. But they were nowhere to be seen. Mr Gardner waited a further one hour and 35 minutes after the last passenger left. The BBC journalist told The Independent: 'Why should disabled passengers have so much worse service than everybody else?' Mr Gardner posted on X (formerly Twitter): 'Annoyed to find that @HeathrowAirport is slipping back into its old bad habits, leaving disabled passengers still waiting for a high-lift to turn up so we can get off the plane, long after all others have disembarked. 'Other airports can manage. C'mon Heathrow, get a grip!' The correspondent was full of praise for the British Airways crew on board, who had just worked for 14 hours. He said: 'The captain was brilliant, saying, 'I would never leave the plane with another passenger on board – I'm the captain of the ship.' 'The crew were so helpful and sympathetic, and they could not have been nicer.' Mr Gardner said that after help finally arrived, he was told by a Wilson James operations manager that two of the five medical lifts had gone out of service overnight. In 2018, the correspondent was kept waiting at Heathrow for 100 minutes to disembark from an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa. The-then chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, later met Mr Gardner to discuss improvements. 'He said, 'I'll give you an hour of my time to learn what we need to do better',' Mr Gardner said. The Independent has asked Heathrow airport and Wilson James, the contractor, to comment.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Heathrow airport workers' strike may intensify, Unite union warns
Strikes by hundreds of workers who assist Heathrow airport passengers with restricted mobility will intensify unless a pay dispute is resolved, a union has said about 800 of its members employed by firm Wilson James are now taking industrial action, adding further walkouts could be of those on strike staged a protest outside Heathrow's head offices on Thursday calling on the airport's management to intervene. Unite said its members were paid 10% less than Wilson James staff at Gatwick Airport.A Wilson James spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that Unite members have chosen to take industrial action again despite efforts to resolve concerns collaboratively." 'Contingency measures' About 500 workers began industrial action on 9 April and more than 300 colleagues have joined them since union said the strikes would intensify over the summer if the dispute was not general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Wilson James can well afford to put forward an acceptable offer."Heathrow bosses need to the tell the company to do just that, otherwise these strikes will continue to intensify with Unite's full support."The Wilson James spokesperson said: "Our priority remains delivering a safe and reliable service for passengers, especially those who rely on our support."We have implemented contingency measures to minimise disruption at Heathrow and continue to value a constructive and respectful dialogue with our colleagues and their trade union representatives."
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Birmingham Airport changes ahead of 'busiest Easter on record' as 650,000 passengers expected
Birmingham Airport has told passengers jetting off on their Easter holidays to expect a number of changes inside the terminal. The Solihull-based airport is bracing for its "busiest Easter on record" with an expected 15 per cent increase in customers year-on-year and more than 650,000 passengers expected through the doors for the Easter break. This Easter, Dubai, Antalya, Alicante and Palma de Mallorca are the most popular beach breaks and Amsterdam, Istanbul and Paris are the most sought-after city breaks from Birmingham. READ MORE: Birmingham Airport changes in 'busiest year ever' - from security and parking to new routes Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp As the terminal braces for record numbers, BHX bosses have flagged a number of changes that passengers will see in the terminal following "a series of significant investments to enhance customer service". Birmingham Airport has also issued guidance for people travelling through security to help ensure a smooth experience as new changes are rolled out. A key change, introduced in March, is the opening of two additional security screening lanes at the airport. Described as "two state-of-the-art" lanes, the new lanes will have a capacity to successfully screen up to 3,600 passengers and their luggage per hour in peak times. However this will only work at its best if people stick to packing the correct liquids in their hand luggage and avoid non-compliant items. At the start of March, BHX appointed a new assisted travel partnership to in a bid to "focus on passenger experience enhancements." From April 1, Wilson James was announced as the new operators of the assisted travel system in the terminal. Birmingham Airport also revealed plans to invest £10 million into the development of an additional outbound baggage carousel in the North Terminal, as well as a reconfiguration and expansion of the south immigration area. The airport said this will bring in "potential for faster processing times". Work on a 'full reconfiguration' of the south arrivals area is already under way, but no fixed date has been confirmed for when passengers will see this change come into effect. Al Titterington, Terminal Operations Director of Birmingham Airport said: 'We are preparing for our busiest Easter holiday getaway on record with many passengers jetting off to enjoy the spring holidays. 'Since last Easter we have invested in our security area to ensure ease and simplicity for our customers travelling through the airport. "Our security hall that opened in June last year, was further complemented with a further two screening machines, enabling large electricals to stay in hand luggage, but more importantly allows liquids in containers under 100ml to remain in bags too. 'Our colleagues will be on hand in the terminal to assist customers on their way through the airport. However, we encourage all to look at our website for the latest guidance on travel.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Heathrow staff helping travellers with restricted mobility to strike
Workers providing assistance to passengers with restricted mobility at Britain's Heathrow Airport are to strike for four days in a dispute over pay. Unite said around 500 of its members employed by private firm Wilson James will walk out from April 5. The union said the workers are being paid less than Wilson James staff at Gatwick Airport performing the same role. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Wilson James and Heathrow are both highly profitable, so there is absolutely no excuse for these workers to be paid far less than their colleagues at Gatwick. Unite is backing these workers 100% in their fight for fair pay.' Unite warned that further strikes will be held if the dispute is not resolved. A Wilson James spokesperson said: 'We are disappointed that Unite members have chosen to proceed with industrial action, particularly as our above-inflation pay offer – delivering a 5.16% increase and bringing hourly rates to at least 13.4% above the National Living Wage coming into commencement in April 2025 – has not been presented to members for a vote. 'We are also disheartened that notice of this industrial action was issued while our teams were working closely with Heathrow to support passengers during an unprecedented airport closure. 'Wilson James remains fully committed to constructive dialogue with our colleagues to find a resolution. In the meantime, we have robust contingency plans in place to ensure the continuity of the assistance service for passengers at Heathrow throughout the planned strike dates.'
