In this week's episode I spoke with Graham Keddie, Managing Director of Belfast International Airport. Graham has been in the aviation industry for over *3 decades* and been MD of BFS since 2014 - quite simply, if there's anything in the aviation sector worth knowing, Graham knows it.

In the episode, Graham gives candid responses and discussion on each of my question - where we covered the below and much more;

• Graham's own history in aviation & the multiple roles he has held and airports/cities worldwide worked in
• How COVID-19 will see 30-35 years of continued growth for the airport practically vanish into thin air (losing 4.5million passengers during a pandemic) 
• The actions the airport has had to take to function throughout a pandemic with fractional passenger numbers vs any of the last three decades
• Growth plans for Belfast Intl Airport and its infrastructure - including structural plans around the airport buildings and a discussion on the possibility of a better road network to the airport and a train line feeding the airports' public transport network
• An airports' metrics in how they measure success and progression
• "Security gate-gate" - details of the problems the airport faced in 2018 with 11x days of backed up security lines 
• *Air Passenger Duty* - Why this is so important for the UK governments to waive in order to bring the airport and airlines in line with EU countries & accelerate potential growth post-COVID
• How Brexit has impacted the airport, if at all
• A discussion on mental health & what we need to be talking about much more than we do
• What Graham would say to his 18year old self, and why

This was a hugely enjoyable episode to record with a gentleman - someone I've followed on social media for the last few years and who I genuinely wish every success for along with his management team and airport staff, as we all navigate through and out of this pandemic in the coming months and years. 

I would love to hear your thoughts! On this episode, on other episodes, on who you would like to hear from in future episodes, and so on. Please as always like and share this episode wide, but also get in touch with me on social media by searching In the Hot Seat or Stevie Henning - on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn and let me know your thoughts! Look after yourselves, stay safe and speak very soon.