When Britain came to a standstill in September 2022, keeping the country moving became one of the most complex logistical challenges of a generation. At the heart of that effort was Fatima Benzbir – and her work has now been recognised in His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours.
Benzbir, Regional Manager for Airports, Festivals & Events at National Express, has been awarded an MBE for services to Operation London Bridge, the national response following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
With more than two decades at National Express, Benzbir has built a career managing high-pressure transport operations where precision matters. Now based at Gatwick Airport, she oversees coach services serving major airports and large-scale events across the UK, including Glastonbury and Boomtown. Earlier in her career, she was responsible for scheduled coach operations at London’s Victoria Coach Station – experience that would prove crucial when the capital faced unprecedented disruption.
Her defining moment came during the State Funeral of Her Late Majesty, when Benzbir led a multi-agency operation to temporarily relocate Victoria Coach Station to Wembley Stadium. The task was immense: hundreds of services needed to keep running while large parts of London closed to traffic. Under her leadership, thousands of passengers were able to travel safely and with minimal disruption at a time of national significance.
Reacting to the honour, Benzbir said:
“I am thrilled and humbled to receive an MBE from The King, and proud that my contributions to the coach transport industry have been recognised in such a prestigious way. More importantly, I want to thank all my brilliant colleagues at National Express. Delivering complex operations is always a team effort, and this award reflects the dedication, professionalism and commitment of colleagues and partners who work tirelessly to provide a brilliant service to passengers every day.”
National Express UK Coach Managing Director Javier Martinez Prieto praised her leadership:
“All of us at National Express are incredibly proud of Fatima. Her leadership, commitment to excellent customer experience and calm, can-do approach ensure that thousands of people can travel safely and reliably everyday, even during the most challenging operational circumstances. This honour is richly deserved and we offer our thanks and congratulations to Fatima.”
The New Year Honours recognise individuals whose work has had a lasting impact. In Benzbir’s case, it acknowledges the quiet authority behind an operation that helped keep the country moving when it mattered most.
