LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport is widely regarded as one of the best airports in the UK, regularly ranking among the top providers in the Which? annual airport survey – and I wanted to find out why.
With the airport being on my doorstep, I went down to spend a day behind the scenes to learn what it takes to keep an airport running.
An avid aviation enthusiast, I was eager to explore, and I arrived bright and early to meet my guide for the day, Head of PR & Communications, Robin Tudor.
The airport is often recognised as one of the best in the country (Image: NQ)
Robin explained to me that out of nearly 3,000 employees, only 10 per cent are actually employed by Liverpool Airport, with the remainder of the staff being employed by third parties, such as Wilson James, who employ security staff, and Swissport, who provide ground services.
Before heading airside, I had the opportunity to speak to Debbie Lacy, Head of Security and Terminal Operations.
Debbie’s job is to ensure that everything before passengers go through security goes as smoothly as possible.
Typically, the terminal processes between 1000 and 1500 people an hour during peak times.
Many staff at the airport are employed by third-party companies (Image: NQ)
Although most people would expect the majority of passengers to be holidaymakers, that isn’t always the case.
Debbie said: “In Liverpool, we have some of the best hospitals.
“So we have a lot of regular passengers that are travelling to Alder Hey and to Clatterbridge.”
The airport also welcomes plenty of international visitors travelling to watch Liverpool and Everton football clubs, particularly from Iceland and Norway.
After my chat with Debbie, it was time to head through security.
It felt a little strange placing my belongings in one of the plastic trays and stepping into the full-body scanner, knowing I wouldn’t be heading on holiday afterwards.
Once through, Robin walked me through everything on offer to customers waiting to board.
The Aspire lounge was a highlight, having opened last October and starting at £31.80 per person.
The lounge is inspired by Liverpool’s history and the River Mersey, with copper plating on entry symbolising the Liver Building domes.
The Aspire lounge is inspired by the Liver Building (Image: NQ)
Next up, it was time for a chat with Jay Haberland and Vicki Donoghue, Airport Duty Managers.
Their job is to keep everything moving and minimise disruption for passengers, and Jay added: “We’re the first port of call if something goes wrong.”
Some of their most common incidents include delays, medical incidents, and liaising with the police.
Following a browse of duty-free, Robin took me to meet the Airfield Operations Team.
Heading out to meet the Airfield Operations Team (Image: NQ)
Richie McAdam, Airfield Operations Manager, detailed how his team works around the clock to keep the airfield clean.
Some of their main tasks include keeping the airfield free of debris and managing wildlife.
Julie Derbyshire and Karl Obi, Airfield, Wildlife and Operations Specialists, told me that “no two days are the same.”
Birds are the main culprit causing issues around the runway, but they also deal with foxes, rabbits, hedgehogs, dogs, and even children trying to cut across the grass.
Then, Joe Smith, part of the Airfield Operations Team, took me onto the runway, which was a real highlight.
Standing on some serious business on the runway (Image: NQ)
The sheer scale of the runway is unbelievable, and something you can’t really comprehend when you’re sitting in an aircraft, ready to depart.
Next, it was time to meet the Airport Fire Team.
Simon Lyon, Senior Airport Fire Officer, said the firefighting team spends most of their time training to ensure they are prepared for any eventuality.
Meeting Senior Airport Fire Officer, Simon Lyon (Image: Supplied)
They also respond to medical incidents, attending between 450 and 550 in a typical year.
He showed me the fire engines, which cost more than £1 million – Liverpool has four of these.
These special engines are equipped with a tool that can pierce the fuselage of an aircraft.
The piercing nozzle gives airport firefighters the ability to penetrate a fuselage (Image: NQ)
Saving the best until last, my day concluded with a visit to the Air Traffic Control tower.
A lifelong lover of all things aviation, the chance to go inside the tower was an amazing opportunity, and something I never thought I’d get to experience.
The tower has 180 steps to reach the top, and is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I watched in awe as the team of controllers communicated with other ATC towers and pilots, helping planes to land and take off safely.
What struck me during my visit was just how hard everyone worked to keep the airport running.
Every single person has an important part to play, and without them, travelling would not be nearly as straightforward.
Next time you’re at Liverpool Airport, take a moment to think about everyone working hard behind the scenes – your trip wouldn’t be as easy without them.
