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Heathrow hires world's first airport cycle officer to push green credentials

Heathrow Airport has hired the world’s first airport cycle officer as it continues its green charm offensive ahead of the government’s decision on a third runway in the summer.

Ali Jafarey will assume the new post as part of a one year cycle partnership between the airport and UK cycling charity Sustrans, which will also see cycle routes to and from Heathrow made safer and accessible.

It comes as the UK hub airport attempts to push its green credentials ahead of this summer’s pivotal airport expansion decision by the government.

Critics have challenged Heathrow’s plans for the construction of a new runway, taking particular aim at the environmental impact of any added capacity at the airport which is already the UK’s largest.

As part of his role, Ali will be responsible for getting as many of the 16,500 Heathrow staff who live within a 5km radius of the transport hub to cycle to work as a way to reduce single occupancy car journeys, emissions and congestions.

Theo Panayi, Sustainable Travel Manager for Heathrow said: “We are looking forward to the partnership with Sustrans, which will make the airport’s cycle routes safer and more accessible, helping many of our 16,500 colleagues who live locally feel more confident about making the journey to the airport on their bikes.”

Plans are also afoot to work in tandem with Sustrans on a cycling strategy that fits into the wider West London Cycling Strategy with the aim of linking Heathrow’s cycle routes with routes stretching as far afield as Feltham, Chiswick and Slough.

Speaking about the wider vision of the partnership, James Scott, Sustrans Programme Manager for Workplace Behaviour Change said: “Heathrow is the largest centre of employment in West London and is uniquely placed to deliver changes to the cycling experience our region.

“Our one year cycle partnership project will help make cycling to work the easy choice for staff, enabling them to travel more sustainably and ease congestion and emissions in local road networks.”