SOUTHAMPTON Airport has launched a campaign to keep customers safe during the holiday season.

The Campus Watch initiative aims to tackle disruptive behaviour among passengers as well as providing employees with all the advice and support they need.

It follows the success of a similar scheme at Glasgow Airport, where the number of incidents involving unruly flyers has halved in two years.

One of its key aims is early intervention. Staff are urged to report problem passengers to the airport’s central control room using a dedicated phone number printed on each employee’s ID badge.

The information is flashed to colleagues around the airport via a rapid text alert system.

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Disruptive passengers can be given warnings about their behaviour, monitored by police and airport staff, and refused alcohol in bars and restaurants.

“If their behaviour continues to cause concern they can be stopped from boarding their flight.

Now Campus Watch has been introduced at Southampton Airport.

Managing director Neil Garwood said: “We have very few incidents of disruption caused by passengers but we take the view that one incident is too many and we must do all we can to protect those who travel with us and our staff.

“We work closely with airlines, security teams and Hampshire Constabulary to manage and often pre-empt incidents.

“We pride ourselves on being a happy, friendly airport and do everything we can to make the passenger experience really enjoyable, making the best of our ‘breeze through’ facilities and fast transit time.

“We do not want anything to spoil that.”

Campus Watch awareness banners and posters are being displayed across the airport.

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Sergeant Liz Barton, who heads the airport police liaison team, said: “Disruptive behaviour can cause worry, concern and misery for a large number of passengers, particularly if the incident occurs on board an aircraft.”

Sgt Barton said airport staff would work together to tackle disruptive behaviour “as soon as it becomes an issue”.

She added: “It sends a clear message and reminds passengers that they’re ultimately responsible for behaving in an appropriate way when travelling through the airport.”

Glasgow Airport’s 2019 Campus Watch scheme was launched by the UK’s aviation minister, Baroness Vere.

She said: “Unruly and disruptive behaviour can be extremely distressful for those on board, threaten the safety of aircraft and be hugely inconvenient for passengers if planes are forced to divert to offload perpetrators.

“It is only right that passengers and staff are protected from such behaviour.”