We Were There...
As a specialist aviation consultancy, Batphone Aviation Communications has been there for a number of major events. Here are some of them.
| Her Majesty the Queen opens Heathrow's Terminal 5 |
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On Friday 14th March 2008, her Majesty the Queen opened Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5. Attracting media from around the world, the event was the biggest Heathrow Airport had ever seen. Fourteen satellite trucks and over 200 media were there. Batphone Aviation Communications supported the BAA Heathrow and group in-house media relations team in managing the media and ensuring the story was broadcast around the world.
And Batphone Aviation Communications was back for the operational opening as well. |
American Airlines' maiden flight from Stansted
On Monday 29th October, American Airlines launched a new route from New York JFK to London Stansted. Supporting our long-term client Swissport (AA's appointed ground handler at Stansted), Batphone Aviation Communications covered the launch at Stansted Airport to produce internal communications material, celebrating the new contract. A coloured newsletter was produced and distributed to all staff within 24 hours of the event. |
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| Picture © Batphone Aviation Communications |
Supporting BAA Heathrow during the Camp for Climate Change
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Between Monday 13th and Monday 20th August 2007, protesters against a possible third runway set up a “Camp for Climate Change” to the north of Heathrow Airport. The presence of the camp threatened the operation of the airport and resulted in a blockade around the headquarters of BAA Heathrow. A huge and successful contingency plan was put in place. Batphone Aviation Communications supported the in-house BAA Heathrow press office in managing the huge media contingent that covered the story. |
Picture © Batphone Aviation Communications |
Arrival of the first A380 aircraft to Heathrow Airport
On 18th May 2006 Heathrow Airport and the world's press welcomed the first visit of the new Airbus A380 aircraft to land in the United Kingdom. Batphone Aviation Communications worked with BAA plc, BAA Heathrow and BAA Gatwick to manage the press and ensure the greatest coverage of such a significant event. |
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| Picture © Batphone Aviation Communications |
Launching Thomsonfly.com as a new low fares airline at Coventry
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On 31st March 2004, Thomsonfly.com was launched as a new low-fares airline from a hitherto underused airport at Coventry. Batphone Aviation Communications was selected as the consultancy to handle a very difficult brief of external and internal communications as well as community and government relations. The airline has gone from strength to strength and now operates from 24 airports in the United Kingdom and many more overseas. Thomsonfly.com has since merged with its sister company Britannia Airways under the strong Thomsonfly brand. |
| Picture © Adrian Meredith Photography |
Gerona
On 14th September 1999, a Boeing 757 operated by Britannia Airways crash landed in Gerona, Northern Spain. Mercifully nobody was killed and there were no life-threatening injuries. At the time, Russell Ison was responsible for media relations at the airline and led a team handling around 600 media enquiries in the first four hours. The media interest continued for some time, being the lead story on national news and leading to a television documentary programme. |
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| Picture © Pere Davesa - Iberian Spotters (davesa747sp@hotmail.com) |
Return of the British Olympic Team from Athens
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Double Olympic Gold Medallist Kelly Holmes, led the British Olympic Team home to Gatwick Airport on 31st August 2004. Batphone Aviation Communications, supporting the in-house team at BAA Gatwick, was there to escort the team through the airport to meet the waiting press at a massive press conference and welcome reception. |
| Picture © BAA Gatwick Airport |
And a month later, the British Paralympics Team returned from the games to a similar reception. |
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Picture © BAA Gatwick Airport |
Alastair Darling opens the new Pier 6 at Gatwick Airport
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On 16th May 2005, the then Transport Secretary Alastair Darling opened the new Pier 6 at Gatwick Airport. Accessed by a bridge 97m long and 32m high which spans a live aircraft taxiway, Pier 6 provides 11 extra pier-served aircraft stands and gaterooms for North Terminal. The bridge is high enough for aircraft the size of a Boeing 747-400 to pass underneath . The development forms a key part of a £110million pier investment in North Terminal. Batphone Aviation Communications supported the in-house BAA Gatwick Press Office team throughout the organisation of the major opening event which involved around 500 guests and participants. |
| Picture © BAA Gatwick Airport |
Delta Airlines
launches new route between London’s Gatwick and New York’s JFK Airports
On 16th November 2006, Delta Airlines launched a new route between London’s Gatwick and New York’s JFK Airports. A significant business route, and the first from Gatwick to JFK for almost twenty years, both BAA Gatwick and Delta are proud of the new route. Directors of Delta and BAA Gatwick were on hand to launch the new route as it was inaugurated by the Mayor of Crawley. Batphone Aviation Communications supported the in-house BAA Gatwick Press Office team in managing the world’s media attending the event. |
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| Picture © BAA Gatwick Airport |
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Ground handling agent Swissport works with Virgin Atlantic |
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