City of Philadelphia - Division of Aviation - Most Valuable Government Response

Company: City of Philadelphia - Division of Aviation
Company Description: Operated by the City of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the largest airport in Pennsylvania and the primary airport serving the Philadelphia metropolitan region. In 2019, the airport served 33 million passengers and partnered with 25 airlines to offer 500 daily departures to more than 140 international destinations. PHL is also a regional cargo hub for UPS Airlines.
Nomination Category: COVID-19 Response Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Most Valuable Government Response

Nomination Title: Chellie Cameron, PHL Airport, Most Valuable Government Response

COVID-19’s impacts on the aviation industry were vast and far-reaching. Airports, in particular, were forced to quickly adapt to the crisis to keep their doors open and operational for essential workers who needed to travel. Rather than falter in the face of a challenge, Rochelle “Chellie” Cameron, CEO of the City of Philadelphia - Division of Aviation, which operates the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), worked with the airport’s leadership team to develop an action plan to ensure the public, passengers, stakeholders, and employees were aware of the steps PHL was taking to navigate the pandemic and deliver safe travel when needed.

The plan included the launch of an informational video series titled “Runway to Recovery.” Hosted by Cameron and members of PHL’s leadership team and shared on PHL website and social media channels, the six-video series introduced various initiatives implemented by PHL during the early days of the pandemic. The videos feature Cameron’s interviews with leaders from several PHL departments and cover a range of topics affecting the airport – including air service development, workplace safety, customer insights, and more, with a focus on educating and untangling the reality of the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Through interviews with PHL leaders, the Runway to Recovery series shone a light on the most pressing health and safety concerns expressed by internal and external stakeholders, connected PHL's leadership team with these groups, and provided vital information on the work being done to create a safe travel and work experience for all. The series reaffirmed PHL’s commitment to its passengers and employees, despite being one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic and underscored their concern for their health and safety.

As a result of Cameron and her colleagues’ commitment to highlighting the realities of the aviation industry during an unprecedented global pandemic, PHL rose from the darkest days of the pandemic and emerged stronger than before.

Below, you will find the direct links to the Runway to Recovery webpage, and all six episodes of the series.

Runway to Recovery Webpage Link: https://phl.org/newsroom/rtr

Episode 1: “Runway to Recovery with PHL CEO Chellie Cameron”: Air Service Development Post-COVID-19: https://www.phl.org/newsroom/rtr/stephanie-wear

Episode 2: “Runway to Recovery with PHL CEO Chellie Cameron”: The Guest Experience Post-COVID-19: https://www.phl.org/newsroom/rtr/leah-douglas

Episode 3: “Runway to Recovery with PHL CEO Chellie Cameron”: Contactless Food Ordering with Grab: https://www.phl.org/newsroom/rtr-grab

Episode 4: “Runway to Recovery with PHL CEO Chellie Cameron”: The New Normal Workplace: https://www.phl.org/newsroom/rtr/sheila-trueheart

Episode 5: "Runway to Recovery with PHL CEO Chellie Cameron": The Critical Work of PHL's Facilities and Maintenance Staff: https://www.phl.org/newsroom/rtr/allan-moore

Episode 6: Runway to Recovery: Customer Insights with Kate Sullivan: https://www.phl.org/newsroom/rtr/kate-sullivan