Heathrow Airport’s new Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye has promised to make the airport ‘even better’ for its customers.
“The UK already has a hub airport that is the envy of much of the world. As I spend my first days getting to know the colleagues and team Heathrow partners who make it a success, I am looking for how we can make Heathrow even better for our customers and the British economy,” says Woldbye.
Woldbye, who started with the airport in mid-October, was previously in charge of Copenhagen Airport, takes over from John Holland-Kaye, whose tenure as Heathrow’s CEO lasted almost a decade.
According to the Mirror, over the next three years Woldbye will oversee plans worth billions of pounds to upgrade the airport’s facilities. This includes installing a new baggage system in Terminal 2 as well the installation of 3D security scanners.
Key issues left in the lurch
Woldbye has a number of key issues to address following Holland-Kaye’s tenure at the airport, reports London-based business-focused newspaper City A.M..
Foremost is that the airport is unable to turn a profit largely due to a growing debt, which now sits at almost £16bn (R370bn), up from £14bn (R323bn) four years ago.
Woldbye will also need to repair relations with airlines following a dispute over landing fees at the airport.
Airlines were infuriated with Holland-Kaye’s stance on the fees, which put him at odds with most of the industry.
To add to this, the new Chief Executive will not enjoy the luxury of this summer’s record demand for travel, as his tenure has begun in the quieter winter months.
