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A collaborative approach to business continuity and organisational resilience when dealing with a major crisis, such as COVID-19
Journal of Airport Management,
15
(3),
226-234
(2021)
Abstract
Most businesses are familiar with the notion of planning and developing contingency measures for foreseeable adverse situations or events that could affect their capability to deliver services or achieve their short-, medium- or long-term objectives. Not that many businesses, however, are fully prepared to face major or catastrophic events that are hard to foresee and predict. The aviation industry is currently dealing with the unforeseen and major impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic. It is having to adapt and review established contingency plans as well as come up with new ways to mitigate the significant operational and economic impacts of this unpr ecedented situation. Airport operators have a key role to play in this situation coordinating the overall business continuity and resilience of the airport system. This paper explores some of the key aspects of tackling business continuity planning from an airport system approach, dealing not only with operational resilience but also with economic sustainability, and provides a case study of the appr oach taken at Geneva Airport in Switzerland.
Keywords: business continuity; emergency planning; COVID-19; airport operations centre
The full article is available to institutions that have subscribed to the journal
Author's Biography
Thomas Romig is a graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, where he obtained a degree in aviation business management. After four years with Airports Council International (ACI World), where his responsibilities included the development of policies, recommended practices, guidelines and strategies for airport operations, safety, airport IT and air cargo, Thomas took up the position of safety officer at Genève Aéroport, where he was in charge of developing the airport’s safety office and implementing the aerodrome certification process. In this role Thomas also managed the development and implementation of the safety management system, employee health and safety processes, infrastructure safety (fire code), and emergency planning and management. In 2013 Thomas changed roles to become the department head for the airport operation control centre (APOC). He is now tasked with developing an airport-wide operational coordination and management centre that is aimed at increasing the efficiency and performance of Geneva Airport in order to maintain the current operational capacity, improve punctuality and customer service and ensure the safety of operations. Thomas has kept a strong link with the international regulatory world through ACI, EASA and ICAO. He participates on a number of committees and working groups developing regulations and recommendations, including the EASA aerodrome rules and the ICAO PANS Aerodromes. In addition, Thomas earned his ICAO/ACI International Airport Professional accreditation (IAP) in 2012.
