Over 1 million people took to the skies from Heathrow Airport in the last 10 days, the busiest consecutive period for departures at the airport since Christmas 2019. The top destinations so far this summer are New York, Los Angeles, and Dubai.
This is the first summer since before the pandemic that Heathrow is fully operational with all four terminals welcoming passengers and both runways open. An estimated 13 million people are expected to travel in and out of the airport between July and September.
Heathrow recently issued a statement stating, “Currently, 80% of Heathrow passengers will clear security within 20 minutes or less, although queues can be longer at our busiest times. It is great to have new resources joining our teams and although they may sometimes take slightly longer to check passengers than their more experienced colleagues, they are becoming more efficient with each passing week as they gain valuable experience.”
“The biggest change at the airport since the reopening of travel is in the passenger mix, with business travel numbers relatively lower and leisure travellers now making up the majority of passengers. Leisure passengers often travel with more luggage and are less familiar with travel rules which can slow their progress through the airport, particularly at check-in and security checkpoints.”
“We want to help every journey get off to the best start, which is why we’re encouraging passengers to follow these top travel tips when flying from Heathrow:
Arrive on time – Do not arrive at the airport any more than three hours before the departure time of your flight. Airlines will not be able to check in your bags if you arrive more than three hours before departure. We have teams of people, including additional passenger service colleagues and the airport’s entire management team, out in the terminals throughout the summer and ready to help you on your journeys. Look out for colleagues wearing pink or purple Heathrow polo shirts if you have any questions or need assistance when you arrive at the airport.Â
Pack your liquids correctly – The fastest way to beat security queues is to have your liquids ready before you get to the airport and to remember things like make-up, hand sanitiser, lotion, lip balm, hair gel and toothpaste all count as liquids. If you plan on travelling with liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, pastes or anything you think might fall into one of those categories, please ensure each item is in a container no more than 100mls and all items together fit within one resealable one litre-sized transparent bag. We have bags available before all security check-points if you need one.
Have your documents ready – Ensure your travel documentation is in order before you get to the airport. Many countries still require COVID tests or vaccination certificates which will need to be verified by your airline at check-in before you are able to travel. The Foreign Office travel advice service is the best place to review the latest information on the entry requirements for your destination.Â
Heathrow Chief Operating Officer Emma Gilthorpe said:
“My colleagues and I are thrilled to welcome so many passengers back to Heathrow again after two years of COVID cancellations and empty terminal buildings. The pandemic has been rough on the travel sector, but as we emerge and ramp up operations, everyone at Heathrow is working hard to get you on your journeys. We’re focusing on getting back to giving you the excellent service you expect every time you travel, and by following our top tips – including ensuring liquids are packed correctly, you arrive on time and you have the correct travel documents – you can help us get you into holiday mode this summer.”
