Heathrow AOC
Supporting The Airline Community
About Us
Heathrow AOC LTD was formed in 2009 to represent and promote the interests of over 90 airlines, ground handlers and others operating at Heathrow. We work in accordance with the scope and remit which has been defined by our members, particularly focusing on operational, capital and regulatory matters and challenges found in the complicated and regulated environment that is Heathrow.
In representing our members, we work with Heathrow, the CAA and other authorities to seek effective regulatory engagement & governance, capital development and efficiency, safety and security, and operational performance and resilience.
The AOC also supports members in the contracting and provision of key common use services, including airside bussing and check in / gate technology.
We represent our members in various industry and community bodies including the Council for Independent Scrutiny of Heathrow Airport (CISHA).
Objectives
We maintain a close working relationship with Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) and the control authorities in order to secure a standard of passenger and cargo handling at London Heathrow Airport, in keeping with international standards. In this we work with all parties to encourage a safe and secure working environment and to seek the best level of performance and service for all users.
We fulfil the obligation within the Heathrow Licence and provide a platform for consultation and agreement on behalf of the airlines operating at London Heathrow Airport, HAL and, with the CAA, DfT and Control Authorities.
The Heathrow AOC focuses on the Regulatory Framework that is used by the CAA to licence HAL as an airport operator, where appropriate challenging both the CAA and HAL on costs, efficiency and service standards. In addition, we engage on operational challenges faced at Heathrow, encouraging Heathrow to provide operating systems that are robust and can mitigate risks of disruption from system failure or external factors, such as weather. We also seek to understand how Heathrow manage third party service contracts to deliver key areas of service e.g. air traffic control of the airport, baggage systems and services to persons with restricted mobility.
We also engage with Heathrow to promote efficient capital spend and more effective implementation of capital projects. This will include, where appropriate, challenge of projected capital requirements in the regulatory process, through to review of capital projects as they come to life. Where appropriate we will encourage the use of third-party experts to clarify whether projects will deliver the expected outcomes and whether the pricing is market competitive, recognising this can often be challenging where there are not many comparators.
We promote the interests of the airlines as representatives of the consumer in the development of London Heathrow Airport. We provide a range of terminal and subject specific forums where airlines can discuss common issues and agree solutions.
We work in partnership with the London Airline Consultative Committee (LACC) and other bodies representing airlines to benefit our members.
Contact Us
Have questions or need assistance? Feel free to reach out to us through the form above or via our contact details. Our team is here to help and will respond as quickly as possible.