Airports UK: Public Affairs and PR support during the global pandemic

Government Relations and Public Affairs, PR and Media Relations

The Challenge

With the UK under a national lockdown, UK airports were under intense pressure as they looked to manage the economic, social and political fallout of global aviation being closed, followed by passenger numbers falling to their lowest levels in history because of a series of restrictions on international travel.

The Tendo team was hired by the Airport Operators Association (now known as Airports UK) provide their 24-hour press office and to advise on political and ministerial engagement.

Our Strategy 

We implemented a programme of reactive and proactive media engagement to lead the calls for greater financial support, political attention and to build awareness of the devastating impacts of the pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions.

This included media sell-in, dealing with daily broadcast media requests, drafting opinion pieces and securing regular coverage, including front page leads in The Telegraph, Daily Mail, The Sun, The Times and Sunday Times, BBC News, Sky News, ITV News and regional media.

Through our political engagement, we secured a parliamentary debate on the financial impact of restrictions on English airports attended by MPs from across the political divide calling for greater business rates relief, as well securing regular political interventions. We also held a regular briefings for politicians and secured regular frontbench engagement and provided advice and counsel to the CEO and Chair.

The Results

During the key periods of the global pandemic, we ran an intensive media programme that secured over 250 pieces of national print coverage and regular appearances on key broadcast programmes including the Today programme and major news bulletins including the 6 and 10 news.

We also positioned the Chief Executive and Chair as thought leaders, securing regular interviews, profiles and opinion pieces including the Telegraph and The Times.

Our political engagement led to high levels of support from politicians across the divide and to the introduction of additional business rates relief, the removal of travel restrictions and reopening of international travel.