HEATHROW HEATS UP FOR OLYMPICS 2012

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THE SUMMER OLYMPICS IS UPON US WITHIN WEEKS AND OLYMPIC CITY LONDON IS ALL GEARED AND HEATED UP FOR IT. 

MIND YOU, THERE IS A CORRESPONDING WINTER OLYMPICS BUT WHO GIVES A SNOWBALL ABOUT IT AS IT IS LIMITED ONLY TO A FEW COUNTRIES AS ONLY THE EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS TEND TO PARTICIPATE. 

Most countries do not have snow and winter games are understandably limited to a few sports like skiing, skating, sledging, ski jumping and er, more skiing. All of which are alien to us and to most people who have never touched snow in their life.

Of course Heathrow Airport will be jam packed like sardines with Olympians and their trainers and hangers-on from their respective Olympic Committees let alone spectators and tourists flying in to enjoy the Olympic spirit.

Naturally one can assume the airport situation will be so bad we might as well stay home and watch it on TV. In fact, this is what I plan to do. First why go to London when the average 5-star hotel room is RM 5,000 per night though some reports claim it is nearer RM 10,000 per night! Think of the number of prostitutes you can have for RM 5,000 let alone RM 10,000.

Then there is the ticket. Most have been sold and blackmarket ones cost an arm and leg. Getting to the venue is another hassle and you can expect to be poked with elbows in the Tube unless you take a taxi which is frightfully expensive. 

Food is always pricey in Europe but I don't think the prices will be jacked up as there is always TESCO and Sainsbury where you can stock up cheaply. I still cannot recover a cooked, roast chicken costs RM 10 in London whereas it costs RM 14 in the supermarket in KLCC!

You are bound to be scalped one way or another so home it is for me. After all, Princess Becky has decided to take me to London in January so we could wear our mink, sable and fox fur coats! We both have plenty of fur coats and nowhere to wear them so we really need to go to London in the dead of winter so we can wrap ourselves in dead animals.

Anyway, for those planning to visit London for the Olympics or during this season, the good news is that Heathrow is all ready to receive a deluge of visitors and handle them (and especially their luggage!) with aplomb and efficiency.

Heathrow has invested RM 100 million just to ensure all goes smoothly and you can actually check into your hotel the same time as your suitcases.


Heathrow, the world's biggest and busiest airport is all set to handle 138,00 passengers in 1 day!


Looks like a nightmare but don't worry, everything is under control!

Olympic Investment for Heathrow to Meet Demand

138,000 passengers expected to depart through Heathrow on its busiest day in history, during the Games

As the proud host airport of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Heathrow is poised to welcome around 80 per cent of all Games visitors – including athletes, officials and media, as well as spectators. With a long-term development plan to further build its world class facilities and infrastructure, Heathrow has made over £20 million investment to manage the extra demand and unique challenges of the Games.

Heathrow is set to experience its busiest passenger volumes on 13^th, 14^th and 15^th August. During this period, the airport anticipates a 39% increase of direct departing passengers from 90,000 to 125,000. It also expects an 85% increase in direct departing bags from 100,000 to 185,000 in comparison to a peak summer day, which would traditionally accommodate a larger number of transiting passengers.

In addition to general passengers, Heathrow will be managing the arrival and departure of 19,850 athletes, including 7,000 Paralympic athletes and team officials who will travel through Heathrow for the London Olympic Games.

Heathrow has taken a number of measures in order to meet the extra demand and ensure minimal disruptions to passengers. The most significant investment is the construction of a temporary Games Terminal, a dedicated departure terminal for passengers and Olympic athletes to use during the peak period. Taking five months to build and roughly three times the size of an Olympic size swimming pool, this terminal will provide an additional 31 check-in desks and 7 security lanes.

For the first time ever check-in facilities within the Olympic and Paralympic Village will also be provided for athletes to further ease airport traffic. An estimated 10,100 people and 37,900 bags are expected to go through the Olympic and Paralympic Village bag collection and the Games Terminal.

Nick Cole, Head of Olympic and Paralympic Planning at Heathrow said, “The Games have created a new era for Heathrow. With our revitalised infrastructure and services, especially for passengers with reduced mobility, we want Heathrow to represent the best of London and the Olympics and Paralympics during the Games and beyond.”

Further demonstrating its commitment to providing improved services to passengers with reduced mobility and to meet the complex needs of the Paralympic teams, Heathrow collaborated with Whizz Kidz, a children’s disability charity in the UK to make considerable investment in special facilities. These include building extra lifts and ramps, providing mobile frames, powered stair climbers as well as an onsite wheelchair repair facility.

Supporting the planning team, there will be a further 1,000 trained volunteers from local communities to help spectators find their way, look after fans, and greet athletes and VIPs, as well as 40 assistants specifically briefed to help media. 

For passengers travelling during Games time, Heathrow recommends passengers arrive at the normal time for their flight and to the Heathrow Express to connect to the airport while London’s public transport network will be experiencing congestion.  

Heathrow Airport has invested RM 100 million to accommodate the massive influx of inbound and outbound visitors for the Summer Olympics

A sea of luggage is quickly sorted so don't panic

THE END