Aberdeen International Airport launch campaign to prevent disruptive passengers
Incidents remain a rarity, but "one incident is too many"
Last updated 29th Jan 2024
Aberdeen International Airport’s disruptive passenger campaign is launching ahead of the 2023 summer season.
Working in partnership with Police Scotland, Campus Watch has been introduced to tackle and limit disruptive behaviour at the airport.
The initiative helps provide training, advice and support to staff who interact with passengers throughout the journey.
Any individual who are being disruptive will be reported by airport staff to the central control room.
This information is shared with staff across the airport campus via a rapid text alert system and passengers can be given warnings about their behaviour, monitored by police and airport staff, or even refused alcohol at all bars and restaurants.
"One incident is too many"
Only 48 disruptive passenger call outs were made between April 2021 and March 2023, whilst the airport carried more than 3.1 million passengers during the same time period.
Despite call outs being such a rarity, Mark Beveridge, AIA Operations Director, said: "One incident, is one too many and we want to reach the tiny minority who fail to act in a responsible manner.
"Instances of disruptive behaviour at our airport remain extremely rare and Campus Watch plays a positive role in ensuring the vast majority of our passengers travel through the airport safely, responsibly and without incident."
"For many of our passengers, the arrival at the airport signals the start of their holiday", added William Wallace, AIA Security Manager.
"We want to ensure our passengers continue to enjoy a pleasant and safe journey and Campus Watch is in place throughout the year to ensure it’s a memorable one for the right reasons."
Proactive approach
Inspector Gary Tough, from Police Scotland’s Border Policing Command, said: "Our approach through Campus Watch is not to wait and respond to incidents of disorder, but to proactively prevent them from occurring, through a combination of early intervention, engagement and patrolling.
"Our message to the public is that Police Scotland and our airport partners are here to support you and to ensure your journey through the airport campus is a successful one."