The Engine Room

Grounded - guiding an airport through the COVID-19 pandemic

Midlands Connect Episode 4

A career in the RAF prepared her to cope in a crisis, but for Clare James, MD of East Midlands Airport, taking the helm in the midst of a global pandemic was her biggest challenge yet. We talk COVID, climate change electric planes and more. 

Midlands Connect is the Sub-national Transport Body for the Midlands.

Midlands Connect researches, develops and champions long-term transport projects to provide the biggest possible economic, social and environmental benefits for the Midlands and the rest of the UK.

We examine every option for improving major transport infrastructure in our region. The fundamental aim of these improvements is to transform regional and UK gateways, bringing the Midlands closer together and accelerating cost-effective improvements to unlock east-west connectivity that will enable the region's economies to work more effectively together.

Our partnership is made up of 22 local authorities, East Midlands and Birmingham airports, and Chambers of Commerce stretching from the Welsh border to the Lincolnshire coast. The partnership also includes the Department for Transport, Network Rail, National Highways and HS2 Ltd, with whom we work alongside to drive an unprecedented level of collaboration for the good of the Midlands and the UK.