As many as 750 non-operational staff at Heathrow will be volunteering 10,000 hours and 2,200 shifts this summer in an effort to improve passenger flow through the airport.
The ‘Here to Help’ scheme is a long-standing initiative but has been bolstered this week in response to growing passenger numbers.
Key roles include welcoming passengers into the airport, directing them to check-in desks, helping to manage issues such as hand luggage exceeding size allowances and assisting with preparing hand luggage to enable them to pass through security.
The team of helpers are also on hand to assist passengers with any required pre-departure paperwork and advice on Covid-19 testing.
TV and radio presenter Rylan became an honorary member of the team doing a shift in the airport, pushing trolleys and packing liquids to speed up the security process.
More than six million passengers have travelled through Heathrow this summer so far, with the airport seeing the equivalent of 40 years of growth in just four months.
This has resulted in a cap being placed on airline schedules during the summer peak with passenger volumes being 500% higher than this time last year.
Heathrow chief operating officer Emma Gilthorpe said: “Our long-standing ‘Here to Help’ initiative has been bolstered in the lead up to the summer holidays to help us fully prepare for the summer surge and ensure passengers get away smoothly.
“We are aware that these summer holidays are the first in three years for many passengers, and that travelling for some may be a stressful experience.
“Our ‘Here to Help’ team will assist you onto your holidays as seamlessly as possible.
“From small steps like helping you pack your liquids to being a friendly face helping you find your way through the airport, the ‘purple people’ at Heathrow will be out on mass from today.”