Air Partner security wing secures new contracts amid recovery
Global aviation services firm Air Partner has built momentum in its safety and security wing, winning two contracts as it looks to bounce back from the coronavirus crisis. Group CEO Mark Briffa noted that the pandemic “significantly impacted our safety and security activities,” but that he was “delighted the division is now experiencing continued recovery.”
Air Partner is a global aviation services group focused on providing worldwide solutions to industry, commerce, governments and private individuals. Founded in 1961, the modern group has two divisions: Air Partner Charter, comprising the firm’s group charter, private jets, freight and specialist services offerings; and Air Partner Safety & Security, which comprises Baines Simmons, Redline Assured Security and its managed services offerings.
Baine Simmons – an aviation safety and fatigue risk management consultancy – has been awarded a contract by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac). The UK's largest ferry operator in terms of ships and destinations served, CalmMac tapped the firm to implement a “Just Culture” programme to build on its safety record, ensuring open and honest safety reporting and increased staff engagement. The consultancy work is contracted to be delivered over a 12-month period and follows on from Baines Simmons’ previous appointment by CalMac in 2019 to deliver a “Just Culture” diagnostic, workshop and bespoke training.
Meanwhile, safety solutions provider Redline has won a new contract with London Gatwick Airport – near Air Partner’s headquarters – and agreed another 12-month extension with Manchester Airports Group, both for the provision of a quality assurance covert testing programme. Redline is seeing demand from airports quickly grow, as they continue to ramp up activity, having already secured business wins with Doncaster Sheffield Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Teesside International Airport in the current financial year.
Briffa added, “The work with CalMac highlights the demand for Baines Simmons’ expertise beyond the aviation industry, demonstrating the reach of our offering.”
Looking to the future, meanwhile, Managing Director of Air Partner's Safety & Security division, Paul Mason, now expects the firm to build on this momentum. Pointing to securing contracts with the UK’s biggest ferry operators, and a number of international airports, he argued this was an indication “of the quality of our offering.”
Mason concluded, “We are confident this demand will continue to grow, and we look forward to working with our new and existing customers to support their safety and security requirements.”
