The thrill of the aviation industry came to life for a group of enthusiastic ‘Exploring the World of Aviation (Airport Operations and Cabin Crew) Level 1’ students during a recent visit to Bristol Airport.
Stepping into the bustling terminal, the students were offered insights into the intricate operations that keep this major travel hub operating.
Leading the tour, Harry Ellis – Corporate Affairs and Community Engagement Executive at Bristol Airport commented: “My role here is to engage with the community, in regards to working with local schools, local colleges, working with parish and district councillors and also with the local community.”
“Either I go out to the schools or we have the schools come here for a tour and a bit of a chat and a look around.”
Talking of the relationship between City of Bristol College and Bristol Airport, Harry said: “We had a meeting about a month or so ago and we arranged three tours for the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 students.
The excursion commenced with a visit to the check-in desk, where students learned about the operations of Jet2. They learnt of the airline’s arrival to the airport in 2021, expanding the airport’s repertoire and bringing 600 new job opportunities, contributing to aviation employment in Bristol and the wider area.
They also discovered why the twilight bag drop-off is important for enhancing customer service and creating a seamless travel experience for passengers.
This echoes what Harry said: “That’s ultimately what we’re trying to do here, always aiming to provide a better customer service.”
Gaining a valuable perspective into the logistics, it was explained to the students that the terminal first opened its doors in 2000, a far cry from today’s operations that see an incredible 40,000 passengers pass through the airport daily with 60% of all flights belonging to EasyJet.
The interactive nature of the visit saw Harry open the floor for any questions, before the group travelled through to the security and general search area, witnessing first-hand the efficiency of the 10 security lanes.
They also gained insights into the upcoming C3 scanners, which will be installed in accordance with UK law by June 2024, enabling passengers to carry up to 2L of liquid through security.
Venturing further, the group then travelled to Aviation House, a central hub where cabin crew, airside staff, and airline offices converge.
The journey continued aboard an internal staff bus, delivering the group to Lulsgate House, where a chance encounter with an ex-student of City of Bristol College now working for EasyJet added a personal touch to the experience.
Delving into the history, the narrative of the airport unfolded through a presentation delivered by Harry. Taking the students from the airport’s roots, originally based a stone’s throw from our South Bristol Skills Academy, through to the bustling Bristol Airport that we know today. Every slide directly informed one of the college units that the students are currently undertaking.
The students learnt of the 3500 employees working across no less than 50 organisations at the airport, emphasising the collaborative effort that keeps the airport’s operations in motion and highlighting the diverse range of careers that are available to our students once they qualify.
As the day concluded, the students departed with a newfound knowledge of the inner workings of the airport and witnessed first-hand where their qualifications can take them.
The sky certainly is the limit for our Aviation and Cabin Crew students as they continue to soar in their studies and prepare to embark on their careers.
