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Courier Service - LHRAdd this

G4S Aviation Services (UK) Ltd works with a number of airlines and retailers at London Heathrow Airport to deliver goods as part of a courier service to the airside located companies.

Overview
G4S Aviation Services has been providing a courier service to companies based at Heathrow Airport since 2004. The airport environment can be complex, with high volumes of goods being delivered to a number of companies that are based at the airport and require items to be delivered quickly and securely to their airside location.

Solution
G4S has an established operation at Heathrow Airport and has over 1,000 dedicated security agents based there. These agents are required to move throughout the airport – from landside to airside and across the five terminals, including the cargo areas.
This has placed G4S in a unique position to provide an internal and external courier service for a number of airlines and retailers operating both landside and airside areas.

Service delivered
G4S has a dedicated team who will collect and deliver the items for the customers who are based at Heathrow Airport and follow a strict process to ensure a seamless link between all areas.
It is particularly important that we implement and follow a robust and compliant process when moving goods from the landside area to the airside delivery area.

Three types of courier service solutions are currently provided:

  • Collection and delivery of Internal mail
  • Collection and delivery of Overseas mail, in the UK
  • Collection and escorting of Overseas high value goods

Internal Mail
Internal mail is picked up directly from the customers’ landside operations daily and is delivered to their airside operation, at Heathrow Airport. To ensure all items are collected and delivered on-time G4S has scheduled in three pickup times, which are prearranged. The customer pickup time is between 9am and 1pm, as this gives us enough time to collect all items from the various locations and deliver them to the appropriate person by the end of the day. The pickup points are:

  • Airline’s head office – Centre of London
  • Airline’s head office – Heathrow Airport (landside)
  • Cargo facility

Overseas mail
Overseas mail, which is being opened in an airport environment needs to be screened again to DfT standards - even if the mail has landed at the airport itself. G4S follows an exacting process to ensure the security of all goods. This involves:

  • A daily fax or email is sent by the customer confirming the detail of the goods that need to be picked up. Including the relevant paperwork
  • G4S picks up the items directly from the flight and takes it to the courier facility (hub), where it is security screened and cleared for delivery
  • G4S takes these goods and delivers them to the appropriate person, who is based on the airside operation

Paperwork is completed at every stage to ensure all information is recoded, who is accountable and what the audit trail is.

Overseas high value goods
A courier service for collection and escorting of high value goods is done on an ad hoc basis, for customers who require this service. As the goods being delivered are of high value we ensure that the goods are secured to the highest standards and the process we follow is robust.

Staff
G4S has a strong presence at all terminals in Heathrow Airport and our staff are highly trained to make sure they are able to deliver the best service. The security training our staff have gone through is DfT accredited, and is delivered though our in-house Training Academy. Our staff are multi-skilled and multi-trained, which enables them to:

  • Provide a courier service
  • Delivery security duties
  • Drive (secure) vehicles on airside area of the airport
  • Screen goods
  • Manual Handling
  • Manage the paperwork and audit trail
  • Be customer facing and build relationships
  • Undertake ad hoc duties

Benefits
We efficiently manage our staff so they are able to provide a courier service at Heathrow Airport and by using the same dedicated staff we have gained our customers’ trust and built strong relationships with all our customers.
Our customers are secure in the knowledge that a security agent, with all the required training and qualifications is collecting, delivering and escorting their goods, and that the management team has implemented a robust process, which drives out inefficiencies and ensures safe delivery of all items.

Customer testimonials
“The mail run has always been operated in a very professional manner and we are very pleased with the level of service provided.
Sebastian and the team are very reliable and friendly”.
Philip Griffin, Station Manager LHR, Saudi Arabia Airlines

“The mail courier services is running extremely well - there have been no issues since G4S started running this service for us.
We are a very satisfied customer”.
Lisa Ailuai, Airport Manager, Air Zealand

Our customers

  • Air New Zealand
  • Colombo Express
  • Eva Air
  • Saudi Arabian Airlines