Christina Lawford
Board Advisor
CEO, Founder and owner of DiamondAir International Ltd. and Sky Diamond Ltd. (part of Diamond Selection Group Holdings Ltd.) for over 30 years. Christina has immense experience in premium passenger handling and facilities at international airports globally. Innovation and passion are paramount especially when it comes to achieving and maintaining the highest service delivery standards in the industry on behalf of many prestigious Airlines, Airports, Travel Management Companies and Global Brands. From just 18 years of age, Christina has solely and organically developed the company into a global, multi-million-dollar business and has created an unsurpassed business model that manages an international network operating in over 630 airports and train stations worldwide. Her key responsibilities are strategic planning, partnership alliances, product development and innovations.
Sky Diamond has been trading since 1994 providing support to UK tour operators by assisting their holiday passengers on arrival and departure. Christina started to win many contracts with consolidators, holiday companies and tour operators providing representation at UK airports.
Whilst running Sky Diamond, Christina began to recognise that there was a gap in the market for a VIP meet and assist service at London Heathrow on commercial airlines. Christina began to look after the music and entertainment industry on arrival and departure, this business started to grow substantially. 2001 saw the separation of the VIP Meet and Assist business from Sky Diamond and DiamondAir International was conceived.
DiamondAir’s client base was growing experientially and DiamondAir was getting requests for the same meet and assist service for all other airports globally. Christina established a network of service partners who were working at the respective airports, had airside access, and dealt with VIP passengers (several different organisations make up the network). DiamondAir can now offer the service in 600 airports globally; this network grew purely out of demand. DiamondAir has seen expediential growth, not only in terms of the number of bookings but also in relation to the different products they can now offer to an ever growing Clientele who expect luxury and efficiency as part of their regular travel regime.
In 2009, DiamondAir was awarded the contract by Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) to operate the first ever, official airport endorsed premium meet and assist service at Heathrow. DiamondAir International finally had full airside access at London’s key airport on an independent, commercial basis. The Airport Concierge product was created.
In 2010, Airport By Invitation was created and DiamondAir now offers this VVIP service in over 80 airports globally. This has set a precedent for accessing airports and revolutionizing how VIPs can transit through a commercial airport by utilizing Royal/Diplomatic suites, VIP terminals and FBO facilities.
The newly created Platform Concierge services quickly followed suit in 2012 with services provided to travellers at train stations on a global level. Offering a premium meet & assist service to travellers on arrival & departure at busy, international stations providing seamless travel assistance for rail travel.
In 2014 Christina was invited to meet with the US Homeland Security and Customs Border Protection (CBP) directors in Washington to discuss the Airport Concierge concept and how DiamondAir could potentially gain access to the federal inspection areas (FIS). DiamondAir was operational out of Newark in 2015 as the first ever-independent airside, meet and assist service in partnership with PANYNJ. Expansion into JFK & LAX is soon to follow.
In 2018 DiamondAir won Best International Business in the UK, at the Forward Ladies national awards as nominated by HSBC.
2018 also saw the creating of the first ever Meet & Assist association; AMAC (Association of Meet & Assist Companies), which was the vision of Christina, she is now Chair of the board & looking to expand the remit of the Association to all independent airport service providers.
In 2019, Christina also became a Co-Founder and Director in Evolvecar Ltd., (evolvecar.co) a zero emission, luxury Chauffeur car service offering premium electric vehicles, primarily Teslas, in over 80 destinations globally.
In 2021, Christina was appointed as the Chair of the BTA (Business Travel Association) Industry Partner Board helping to drive initiatives across all sectors & assist in the post Pandemic recovery of the corporate travel industry.
In 2022, Christina became part of the book Unstoppable Women, telling the story of Female Entrepreneurs and their respective journeys through business and life.
In 2023 Christina won Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Forward Ladies prestigious summit & award ceremony.
2024 has seen the launch of En Route, a premium off airport check in lounge and remote check in facilities for Airlines at London Heathrow, innovation which enables DiamondAir to take the airport to the passenger.
Christina is also on the Advisory Board for Women In Travel CIC & has been mentoring women who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic & seeking guidance, support & new opportunities.
Additional voluntary commitments include running homeless shelters throughout the Christmas period for Crisis at Christmas as a Shift Leader for over 20 years. Also, a Trustee for another charity organisation called The Pavement that provides support to the Homeless sector via a published magazine to empower, support & inform readers.
