Bidvest Noonan

A leading provider of Facilities Management Servicess

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How Facilities Management in Airports Enhances Passenger Safety

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Airports are among some of the busiest and most complex environments in the world. Every day, tens of thousands of people move through busy terminals, navigate car parks, security areas, and retail zones, each with different individual needs and expectations. Families, business travellers, and passengers with reduced mobility all share the same routes and facilities, relying on everything around them to work safely and efficiently.

Managing such a vast and high-pressure environment requires extraordinary precision. Every system, surface, and service have a role to play in keeping people safe. From the cleanliness of floors and air quality to the reliability of escalators and lighting, airport facilities management safety underpins the smooth operation of the entire airport.

At Bidvest Noonan, our people, technologies, and expertise are dedicated to ensuring that airports remain secure, hygienic, and reliable. We understand that passenger safety is a defining feature of a successful airport experience.

Managing Some of the Most Complex Spaces in the World

Airports in particular are complex spaces, combining restricted zones, and high-security areas, each with its own risks and regulations. Managing this mix is a challenge unlike any other in facilities management. The goal is to ensure that every element works in harmony so that passengers can move freely and safely from the moment they enter the terminal until they board their flight. This is the everyday challenge of airport FM safety. It is a continuous process of risk management, coordination, and professional care that keeps complex systems functioning and passengers protected in one of the most demanding environments.

A smiling cleaning staff member wearing a navy and turquoise uniform and blue gloves stands in an airport check-in area, holding onto a barrier post. Check-in signs and queue barriers are visible in the background.

Building Passenger Confidence Through Safety

Passenger safety is a fundamental element of overall passenger experience. When people feel safe, they also feel calm, confident, and well cared for. A secure and well-maintained airport environment helps travelers navigate easily and reduces stress of both passengers and staff

From check-in to boarding, every touchpoint contributes to that feeling of safety. Clear signage reduces confusion, lighting improves visibility, and temperature control ensures comfort. These details can have a strong influence on how safe and prioritised a passenger feels.

Professional airport passenger security measures also play an essential role. Visible officers, CCTV systems, and controlled access points protect passengers without creating a sense of intrusion. When safety is handled professionally and with empathy, it becomes an invisible assurance enhancing airport experience.

How Does Facilities Management Improve Airport Safety?

Facilities management is a key pillar of airport safety. It integrates a number of services including cleaning, security, maintenance, PRM, and more, to create a safe and efficient environment. Every service is interdependent, and together they prevent accidents, protect infrastructure, and safeguard wellbeing.

At Bidvest Noonan, we take a holistic approach to airport facilities management safety. Our teams work together across all disciplines to anticipate risks and maintain consistent standards. Experience is vital in an environment with so many moving parts. Our teams draw on deep industry knowledge and established best practices to manage operations that meet both aviation regulations and passenger expectations.

Safety is the foundation of airport life. It extends far beyond emergency procedures or visible security. It is built into every routine activity, every process, and every interaction.

Airport facilities management safety connects the work of multiple disciplines. Cleaning protects public health, maintenance ensures structural and mechanical safety, and security safeguards people and property. Together, these functions create an environment that feels controlled and trustworthy.

How Does Cleanliness Impact Passenger Safety?

Cleanliness is one of the most visible indicators of safety in an airport. It directly reduces risks such as slips, trips, and falls, and the spread of infection. But aside from the practical benefits of well-maintained spaces with high footfall, a clean environment also signals control, care, and professionalism. 

Bidvest Noonan’s cleaning teams follow carefully planned cleaning regimes to ensure high standards of hygiene. High-touch areas like handles, handrails, and seating are cleaned frequently using environmentally responsible products. Air quality and waste management are continuously monitored to maintain a healthy atmosphere for passengers and staff alike.

Our focus on cleanliness goes beyond presentation. It is an integral part of airport FM safety, providing both physical and mental reassurance to travelers while preventing the very real health risks that can quickly escalate in these busy public environments.

Preventative Maintenance and Operational Reliability

Every airport relies on thousands of interconnected systems: escalators, baggage conveyors, lighting, heating, ventilation, and fire protection. Each one must perform flawlessly to maintain a safe environment for passengers, as well as meeting the core function of air travel

Preventative maintenance across all these systems ensures that critical touchpoints remain reliable from entry to exit. Regular inspections by experienced personnel, data-driven monitoring with the latest technology, and proactive maintenance across every facility prevent failures that could compromise safety or cause operational delays.

At Bidvest Noonan, we use advanced digital tools to record and analyse asset performance, allowing engineers to predict and prevent faults before they occur.

This proactive approach to maintenance is essential in a 24-hour environment. By preventing breakdowns and maintaining infrastructure at peak performance, we help airports operate safely and efficiently for passengers and staff.

Technology Supporting Safer Operations

Technology now plays a central role in enhancing airport safety. Smart systems and data analytics allow FM teams to identify risks faster, make informed decisions, and improve performance.

Bidvest Noonan uses advanced technology such as smart sensors to monitor air quality, temperature, and energy use. Predictive maintenance platforms track asset conditions and highlight potential failures before they impact operations. Integrated digital dashboards provide real-time visibility across cleaning, maintenance, and security functions.

This data-driven approach strengthens both safety and sustainability. It enables teams to allocate resources efficiently, reduce downtime, and respond immediately to emerging issues. 

A Safe Airport is a Better Airport

At Bidvest Noonan, we bring together innovation, expertise, and deep industry experience to deliver world-class airport FM solutions built to enhance passenger safety. Our focus on technology, training, and operational excellence ensures that airports remain safe, efficient, and welcoming for everyone who passes through them.

In aviation, safety is the measure of trust. Through our commitment to excellence in airport facilities management safety, we help airports protect their passengers and staff while delivering the smooth, confident experiences that define the world’s best airports.

Read our 2024 Sustainability Report

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Our 2024 Sustainability Report highlights the positive impact we are making for people, communities, and the planet.

This year, we cut over 4,900 tonnes of CO₂e, advanced our commitment to Net Zero, and introduced innovations that help customers meet their own sustainability goals. We strengthened our social impact by supporting colleagues of 157 nationalities, creating 224 apprenticeships, and partnering with leading charities and employability programmes.

With strong EcoVadis recognition and ambitious science-based targets, our report shows how we are driving progress across our four pillars: Workplace, Community, Environment, and Marketplace.

Read the full report to see how we are building a better, more sustainable future.

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WATCH: Purpose Hero – Laura and Ruby

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Meet Laura and Ruby, who stepped in when an ordinary Thursday at Castlecourt Shopping Centre turned into something no one expected.

In this video, they share the moment they had to act quickly to help a young woman in distress, and what it meant to be there for her when she needed it most.

WATCH: Purpose Hero – Kevin Barrett

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Meet Kevin Barrett, Security Manager at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. In this video, Kevin shares the story of the day a fire broke out at a nearby apartment complex and how he took charge of the response.

From directing his team to making quick, life-saving decisions, Kevin led the effort to get everyone out safely. Watch as he looks back on that day and reflects on what it was like in those critical moment.

Four Principles That Guide Our FM Services in Healthcare

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Bidvest Noonan healthcare cleaners working together in a hospital ward

Clean, safe spaces are essential in any healthcare setting. For patients, they mean comfort and reassurance. For staff, they mean being able to focus on care. And for visitors, they signal that their loved ones are in a place where health really matters. At Bidvest Noonan, we understand this deeply. Every day, we help healthcare providers maintain environments where people can feel safe, supported, and respected.

We bring together skilled teams, proven processes, and the right tools to deliver reliable services across hospitals, clinics, and care settings. From cleaning and infection control to security and technical services support, our role is to make sure nothing gets in the way of care.

Susan Howard, our Director of Operations for Healthcare, shares four guiding principles that shape how we deliver on that promise:

1. We know hospitals don’t stand still, so neither can we

Healthcare environments demand constant adaptability. Every moment counts, and every relationship matters. At Bidvest Noonan, our teams work in these dynamic settings every day, supporting clinical teams and maintaining the highest standards.

I make sure our teams know they’re part of something bigger. We’re there to help create the right conditions for care to happen safely. That means being responsive, thoughtful, and prepared to adapt, whether that’s moving quickly after an incident or making sure a treatment area is turned around without delay.

We also invest in local healthcare managers who truly understand these environments. They know them inside out. They build strong relationships with clinical leads and facilities teams so that, when plans change, we’re already on the same page. That level of trust is invaluable, and we understand that taking it to the next level takes time and consistent delivery of services. It’s how we stay effective and keep standards high.

2. Clean is not enough, we focus on safe

There’s a difference between a space that looks clean and one that is clinically safe. We focus on ensuring both. Infection prevention is central to what we do. It’s a responsibility we take seriously because the risks are real.

That’s why we have a dedicated Infection Prevention and Control specialist to support our teams and our clients. This person works with our teams on the ground, advising, auditing, guiding, and responding in real time. They ensure our methods are evidence-based and match both national guidance and the needs of each hospital.

We also treat infection control as a shared effort. Our teams don’t work in isolation. They stay close to hospital IPC leads and learn from them, too. We’ve seen how much of a difference this makes, not only in maintaining safer environments, but in giving clinical staff more confidence in the spaces they use.

3. Technology should make life easier, not more complicated

I’m a big believer that technology should work for people, not the other way round. We use tools that help our teams do their jobs better and give our clients more clarity and control. But it’s got to be simple, practical, and fit for purpose.

We use digital auditing tools to check performance in real time. Our Task tracking system keeps us accountable, and dashboards help managers make smart decisions quickly. But it’s not about data for the sake of it. It’s about being able to act quickly, spot issues early, and make continuous improvements based on real insight.

For hospitals and healthcare providers, this means less chasing, more transparency, and more peace of mind. And for our teams, it means clearer expectations, better feedback, and more support. That’s what technology should do, make good work even better.

4. You get better results when people feel they belong

I believe the best service comes from people who feel valued and supported. That’s especially true in healthcare, where the work can be intense and often demanding. So we put real effort into looking after our colleagues, not just training them.

Every team member receives healthcare-specific training, but we also spend time explaining why their role matters. We want them to see how their work directly supports care, recovery, and dignity. When someone knows their job has real impact, they show up differently.

We also offer support and development that goes beyond the basics. Whether it’s refresher sessions, mentoring, or just listening to what they need to do the job well. And when someone does a great job, we recognise it. We want our teams to feel proud, because pride turns into consistency, attention to detail, and genuine care.