COP26
A Complex - But Vital - Transport Operation
COP26 was the largest gathering of world leaders ever hosted in the UK. Travel Connect was appointed to deliver a fully managed transport solution for security operations across the entire summit - safely moving over 55,000 passengers across 1,466 journeys, around the clock, for the duration of the event.
When Atalian Servest needed a transport partner to support security operations at COP26 in Glasgow, the scale and complexity of the brief was unlike almost anything we had encountered before. Around 1,500 security staff needed to be moved efficiently between a cruise ship in Greenock and multiple secure drop-off points across the event footprint - operating daily from 04:00 until 00:30, with zero tolerance for delay or error.
With the eyes of the world on Glasgow and the highest levels of security in place, the stakes could not have been higher. Our role was to plan and deliver a transport operation that was not only logistically robust, but fully compliant with UN accreditation requirements, UK driver hours regulations and the sustainability goals at the heart of the summit itself.
Our Role
At the world’s most high-profile climate summit, delivering results was everything.
Our Approach
We built an operation designed to flex - because we knew it would need to.
From the outset, sustainability was central to our planning. We allocated only Euro 6 low-emission vehicles and built a cost-effective timetable that maximised vehicle use while maintaining full regulatory compliance. Every driver was fully accredited ahead of the summit - a decision that proved invaluable as plans shifted and security requirements evolved.
And shift they did. Three days before the summit opened, additional UN accreditation requirements meant mobilising extra shuttles at short notice. On World Leader Day, last-minute security restrictions delayed 750 night staff mid-transfer, requiring real-time intervention from our 24-hour control room and the rapid deployment of contingency coaches. When a major football match near the venue threatened congestion, we proactively re-routed services, resolving the issue before the client was even aware of the risk.
When the summit overran by almost 48 hours, our accredited relief drivers stepped in seamlessly, keeping operations running through the extended period without interruption. Throughout it all - COVID testing delays, road closures, constant timetable adjustments - our control team maintained round-the-clock communication, issuing live updates and rapid solutions at every turn.
Our Strengths
What COP26 demonstrated above all else was the depth of Travel Connect’s operational capability under sustained, extreme pressure. Our ability to plan meticulously while remaining genuinely agile in the face of constant change is what set us apart on an operation of this magnitude.
Our 24-hour control room was the engine room of the entire operation - monitoring every journey, communicating with drivers and suppliers in real time, and responding to disruption before it could become a problem. Our accreditation process, completed ahead of the summit, meant we could flex the operation quickly without ever compromising on security compliance.
Equally important was our commitment to sustainability - something that aligned directly with the values of the summit itself. By deploying only Euro 6 vehicles and building an efficient, well-managed timetable, we were able to minimise environmental impact without sacrificing performance.
The Outcome
Over the course of COP26, Travel Connect operated 1,466 journeys and safely transported 55,452 passengers - keeping the security teams protecting the world's most important climate summit exactly where they needed to be, at all times.
Despite one of the most challenging and unpredictable operating environments we have ever faced, the operation ran without significant interruption. Every curveball was met with a solution, every delay was managed, and every passenger was moved safely and on time. It was a powerful reminder of what Travel Connect is built for - complex, high-stakes transport operations where experience, infrastructure and calm under pressure make all the difference.