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London’s Heathrow airport braced for Olympics exodus

13 August 2012 11:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA-Economics. Today will be one of Heathrow Airport’s busiest ever days as 116,000 people jet away from Britain, following the final day of the Olympics, Daily Mail reported.

About 6,000 athletes will leave the airport today through a temporary terminal as big as three Olympic swimming pools, reported operator BAA.

Athletes, expected to depart with more than three bags each, had the opportunity to check in their luggage at the Olympic Village this weekend before it was driven to the airport to be processed through the baggage system overnight.

On arrival at the terminal, athletes will be treated to a special London-themed send-off .

Athletes will be clapped into each terminal by a guard of honour made up of Heathrow volunteers.

Heathrow operator BAA is trying to keep the details under wraps.

No aircraft will depart from the Games terminal.

Instead, athletes will take an airside coach to their departure point in the main airport.

Once there lucky fans will get one last opportunity to mingle with their heroes as they wait for flights together.

Regular passengers should not be affected or see longer waits than usual, according to BAA.

After three days of operation the terminal will be decommissioned and the site returned to its original use as a staff car park.

BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said: ’Heathrow is proud of the part we have played in making London 2012 a success. We hope that Olympic athletes, spectators and officials enjoyed a great welcome to London.

’Olympic departures present a fresh challenge with new facilities like the Games terminal being used for the first time. We have been preparing for seven years to deliver a farewell of which the whole country can be proud.’

Heathrow Â£20 million preparing to handle 80 percent of Olympics visitors, according to the statement.

Meanwhile Gatwick airport, the U.K.â€™s second-busiest, is expecting 70,000 departures tomorrow, about 15 percent more than a typical August day, a spokeswoman, told Business Week.

She said the biggest challenge will be processing irregular and oversize bags holding their equipment.

The Olympic Route Network, which sets out road restrictions will end at midnight on Tuesday according to Transport for London.