OPINION


WORDS ADRIAN PARKES


LET’S GET THE UK RUNNING AGAIN


Congestion at airports is a symptom of underinvestment and lack of strategy


but a real bona fide “master”? A phenomenon like Usain Bolt in the world of athletics, or a shining light of the stage like Dame Judi or Maggie Smith? Of course, a large part of that star quality comes naturally. Top sportsmen and women typically have the right genetics to succeed while actors have an in-built confidence that leads them to their chosen career. But aside from all that is a desire to make it, coupled with a lot of practice. They get to the pinnacle of success by single- mindedly chasing the dream and working hard every day. There can be no half-measures, even when they’ve reached the top.


H


GETTING MOVING AGAIN Having this single-mindedness isn’t easy – as is quite plainly demonstrated by our national approach to the UK’s long-term infrastructure projects. A case in point is Heathrow, once the envy of the world for its slick operation and desire to improve. Nowadays the


146 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018


AVE YOU EVER wondered what it takes to be a superstar? You know, not just somebody who’s good at what they do,


UK’s self-styled “premier” airport is a hub best avoided


unless you really love standing in a queue. Back in June, London First


– a body representing some of the capital’s biggest businesses – complained about the hub’s chronic congestion, most particularly at border control. Wait times of more than two hours were becoming commonplace, it reported, creating a terrible first impression of the country for business travellers and tourists. Fast forward to July and the situation was even worse. A shortage of staff during the high season saw Border Force staff from Dover being redeployed to the airport. Even civil service tax officers were called in to help out. Worryingly, it isn’t just


Heathrow. This summer hasn’t been great for regional airports either. At Manchester, immigration queues have snaked around the terminal thanks to a combination of broken technology and staff shortages, while the hot weather hit local rail services


resulting in many missed flights. Meanwhile, hundreds bedded down overnight at Stansted after a raft of cancellations simply because they had nowhere else to go. Obviously, this situation is unsustainable and the GTMC recognises the need to get our airports moving again. The bigger question is what


ALL OF OUR


MAJOR AIRPORTS NEED IMMEDIATE INVESTMENT IN DIGITAL BORDERS, SUCH AS E-GATE FACILITIES


happens longer term? With Brexit looming, the UK is facing one of its biggest economic challenges and businesses are doing their best to get ready. Corporates are looking far and wide for new opportunities – as they have been encouraged to do – and that means more people travelling on business. A third- rate infrastructure potentially could put the brake on this at a time when we need to be at our best as a trading nation. Clearly all our major airports need immediate investment in digital borders, such as e-gate facilities, to speed transit. The government simply cannot ignore the fact that a significant increase in the numbers of public sector employees is needed if Border Force staff are to manage our ports and airports in a post-Brexit world. Britain can succeed when we put our minds to it. The desire to host a great Olympics was there back in 2012 and it was delivered, thanks to a combination of planning and politicians working together for the collective good. If you want to take gold, you’ve got to be bold.


Adrian Parkes is chief executive of the GTMC, which represents travel management companies (gtmc.org)


buyingbusinesstravel.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154