<p>The weather can be unpredictable and unreliable, which can cause air travel to sometimes be disrupted at a moment’s notice. Strong winds and thick fog can mean planes are grounded, causing severe trouble to both passengers and crew. That’s why it’s important for airlines to have a backup strategy in place should disturbances occur, including air transport solutions.</p>

<p>Airlines have corporate responsibility for the safe transportation of passengers and crew; both in the air and on the road network. Our Safety &amp; Assurance policy is designed to ensure that we only work with transport operators who can work within a clear safety framework; this being essential in the absence of consistent regulation and governance of the private hire/taxi industry. We take your corporate safety responsibility very seriously, and are ready to support you so your commitment to safety extends to your road transport provision.</p>

<h2>Providing Expert Air Transport Services</h2>

<p>At First Travel Solutions, we provide a variety of air transport services to ensure efficient ground travel to both crew and passengers. We liaise perfectly between handling companies and airlines, such as easyJet, Jet2, Titan Airways and Germania Airways, to organise buses and taxis for quick and easy travelling.</p>

<p>When flights are disrupted at short notice, we can provide safety compliant, alternative air transport solutions in an instant for any stranded airline passengers. Our nationwide reach means we are able to offer travel to different UK airports as part of rearranged flights. We have staff working in our round-the-clock control centre who specialise in minimising customer disruption by providing support, timely information and bespoke air transport solutions to any problems that arise.</p>

<h2>Get in Touch for Reliable Air Transport Solutions</h2>

<p>No matter what your requirements are - whether you’re working around planned strike action or it’s the early hours of the morning - we will liaise directly with you every step of the way to create a bespoke action plan. We can also provide you with precise vehicle tracking to keep you up-to-date on vehicle positions at every moment.</p>

<p>For further information on forming an air travel service contingency plan, or to discuss our safety and assurance policy and risk protocols, please call 0345 528 0270 or email <a href="mailto:travel.solutions@firstgroup.com">travel.solutions@firstbus.co</a><a href="mailto:travel.solutions@firstbus.co.uk">.uk</a>.</p>


Air Transport Solutions

<h2>The Challenge</h2>

<p>First Travel Solutions (FTS) work with ground handling companies such as Menzies and Servisair and for airlines easyJet, Titan Airways and Germania Airways providing planned and emergency transportation for flight crews and passengers during periods of disruption.</p>

<p>It's very rare to get any advance warning of flight disruption from most airline clients. FTS may receive advance notice of possible strike action taking place across Europe but that doesn't mean any requests to cover passenger disruption will be received at this time.</p>

<p>A typical scenario that the team at FTS often have to deal with can be something like the following.</p>

<p>An easyJet flight from Luton to Inverness cannot land at Inverness due to extreme crosswinds. There are usually 3 airports that easyJet would use as a diversion - Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Ground handlers at these airports normally hear about the incoming flight diversion and their team then makes the request for alternative transport on behalf of easyJet or other airlines.</p>

<h2>The Solution</h2>

<p>The first notification FTS will receive is the call from the ground handlers requesting transport for the number of passengers on the diverted flight. From that first call the clock is ticking for the FTS Control Team and team members endeavour to have alternative transport in place within an hour of that first call.</p>

<p>The biggest challenge facing the team at FTS is the time of day that the first call is received. If the request is made during the early hours of the morning, drivers may still be asleep so the hour mark response begins to become a real challenge. Other factors may also hinder FTS recruiting vehicles and drivers quickly - other flights diverting, major events taking place, rail replacement work, etc.</p>

<p>When FTS do recruit the vehicles and drivers, the requester will be updated with arrival times at the diversion airport and the airline, as is the case with easyJet will receive an email notification detailing the recruitment details, supplier, eta and the flight number affected to speed up the communication process. During the coach recruitment process the drivers' details are obtained so contact can be maintained at all times. General staff are on hand to bring the airline passengers out to meet the vehicles. These vehicles are then tracked until the arrive at the destination.</p>

<h2>The Result</h2>

<p>If this is a major weather related issue across large parts of the country, extra staff are brought into the FTS Control room to manage the situation.</p>

<p>After any major disruption, a report is sent to the client highlighting any issues faced during transport requests.</p>

<p>In a nutsell, FTS manage all requests made. It's not always possible to carry out the original request but solutions are always provided with the best interests of the passengers being the focus of the team. Passengers need to get home or catch another arranged flight and FTS is needed to help get them there.</p>


ftsmanager

Transport Solutions for general Air Disruption challenges

Case Study

<h2>The Challenge</h2>

<p>As Europe’s leading short-haul airline, easyJet flies to and from airports across the UK. It runs more than 100 routes from London Gatwick alone.</p>

<p>Providing ground transport for flight crews is a major logistical exercise. Together with transport for training sessions, it currently amounts to 20,000 journeys every year.</p>

<p>In addition, the airline needs short-notice provision for both crew and passengers when flights are disrupted for any reason.</p>

<p>Until recently, easyJet used a combination of airport-based ground handling agents and direct procurement of local transport providers. It was a resource-intensive and piecemeal arrangement. The airline was keen to find a less complex and more cost-effective solution.</p>

<h2>The Solution</h2>

<p>First Travel Solutions now fulfils all of easyJet’s ground transport needs.</p>

<p>Coaches, minibuses and taxis are marshalled as required through our control centre, which works round the clock, 365 days a year. Vehicle tracking offers precise real-time monitoring. FTS provides a dedicated Operations Manager who is based close to easyJet’s Luton headquarters.</p>

<p>With our unrivalled UK-wide footprint – and more than 1,700 pre-approved, audited coach and taxi suppliers – we are able to draw on providers to meet unpredictable demands. For example, if a European flight from Gatwick is cancelled and a passenger urgently needs to travel, we can swiftly arrange an emergency taxi from London to an alternative service flying from Manchester or Glasgow.</p>

<h2>The Result</h2>

<p>easyJet benefits from the economies of scale offered by a single provider with nationwide reach.</p>

<p>With service levels specified for vehicle types, response times and even the age of the vehicle, easyJet can depend on a quality service. By safely transporting easyJet's&nbsp;employees promptly, we contribute to the airline’s efficiency.</p>

<p>We were also trusted to transport hundreds of staff, VIPs and media guests to easyJet’s 20th birthday party at Luton.</p>
