Heathrow announces longlisted innovation partners for airport expansion
Tata Consultancy Services and Wood Group are among those longlisted to work on Heathrow's expansion, the airport announced this morning.
The Innovation Partners process, which was launched in April, seeks to ensure the final third runway plan is efficient, sustainable and affordable, as well as meeting all the criteria of improving passenger experience, driving cost efficiencies and growing commercial revenues.
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Longlisted companies will have eight weeks to prepare pitches to present to Heathrow executives.
Any successful ideas that may have an effect on the masterplan of the airport expansion will be factored into the Development Consent Order, which is expected to be approved in 2021.
Other companies that have made it through to the next round include Redline Aviation Security, Sita Information Networking and Computing, Sagoss and Anthesis.
Heathrow Expansion executive director Emma Gilthorpe said: “Parliament has entrusted us with the job of delivering Britain’s new runway, in a way that benefits the whole of the country and our neighbours.
"These are steadfast commitments we place on ourselves also. Our Innovation Partner Process is further evidence of us wanting to work with anyone who wants to legitimately challenge our way of thinking and work with us.
"We do not have the monopoly on great ideas and those going through to the next round, have clearly evidenced innovative ways of finding approaches and implementation that will benefit our communities and country.
"We are excited for the next round in this search, as those wanting to help us build a legacy for future generations and travellers, are one step closer to having a global platform with Heathrow.”
More than 150 ideas were submitted, looking at sustainability, retail and operational solutions, and more than 86 per cent of the expressions of interest were from outside the airport's current supply chain.
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