Heathrow is expected to have the busiest day in its history today as athletes and officials begin to leave London after the end of the Olympics.
Up to 138,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport on Monday, following last night’s Olympics' closing ceremony.
Between Monday and Wednesday, Heathrow is set to experience its busiest passenger volumes, with a 39 per cent increase in direct departing passengers, from an average of 90,000 to 125,000, as well as an 85 per cent increase in departing bags from 100,000 to 185,000.
The airport has invested over £20 million building a temporary Games terminal to manage the extra demand. The facility, with 31 check-in desks and seven security lanes, is dedicated to handling the 10,000-plus delegations of athletes, coaches and support staff.
Despite pre-event concerns over immigration, traffic and security, London brings the curtain down on a succesfully run Games, underpinned by an inspired peformance by Team GB athletes which won 29 gold medals.