Host Airport for London 2012
We are delighted to be the official Host Airport for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As Host Airport Heathrow has a vital role in making this once in a life time event a success for the UK. Heathrow will be the first and last impression of the London 2012 Games for thousands of people. Meaning everyone at Heathrow will be involved in making sure we deliver a great experience for all our games passengers and visitors.
It’s estimated that Heathrow will oversee the arrival (and departure) of 125,000 members of the Olympic and Paralympic community meaning we will welcome almost 80% of all Games passengers, including athletes, officials, sponsors, media and spectators between July and September next year.
- Press release: Heathrow unveils plans for London 2012 Games Terminal
- Heathrow’s Preparations for the Games at Six Months to Go (4MB PDF)
Heathrow’s challenge:
- 80% of Games passengers to be welcomed at Heathrow
- Busiest day in Heathrow’s history will be 13 August 2012
- Planes could be 100% full on the busiest day, compared to a usual busy day of 92%
- 200,000 bags expected on the peak day - 35% higher than normal
The Games will be Heathrow’s biggest ever challenge and in preparation we have highlighted two key challenges that our airport faces:
- For the London 2012 Olympic Games it is the volume. The combination of holiday makers during the summer period plus Games spectators mean greater overall volumes of direct arriving and departing passengers and baggage.
- For the London 2012 Paralympic Games it is one of complexity. There will be higher than normal volumes of passengers with restricted mobility (PRMS), many with wheelchairs.
To ensure we give the world’s greatest athletes the world’s greatest welcome our whole airport community is working together to overcome these challenges. However to help us achieve this we are also recruiting over 1000 Team Heathrow volunteers to join our airport community.
Team Heathrow community volunteers
To create a memorable experience for the many thousands of visitors arriving for the Games and other large events in 2012, Heathrow has launched its own volunteer programme. Around 1,000 members of the public will be recruited to welcome tourists, athletes, officials and VIPs and escort them through the airport on their way into London.
Find out more about our Team Heathrow volunteer programme.
Media zone
During Games time, all media working at the airport will be issued with a pass, enabling them to work freely within the marked media zones in the Terminal landside areas. Access will not be permitted without a pass therefore media wishing to film at the airport will need to register and collect a pass from a terminal media room before working at Heathrow during the Games time.
We will provide all media who are accredited to work at the airport during the summer of 2012 with access to a package of facilities and services to ensure that they have the best possible experience. Each Terminal will also have Media Assistants on hand to assist media with picking up their Heathrow pass and provide them with additional support where needed.
