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New Heathrow managing director
Virgin flies out Special Olympics team
Demo for exiled leader
Security high for Israeli players
Freed journalist gets welcome
Fans farwell to Beckhams
Hero Gurkha arrives for treatment
New Heathrow managing director
13 May 2008
Belfast-born Mike Brown has been appointed the new managing director of Heathrow as part of a major management restructuring at BAA.
He leaves from London Underground where he is chief operating officer and is expected to take up the new post in September
Current managing director Mark Bullock says that he is leaving because of the changing MD role at Heathrow and adds “the time is clearly right for me to move on and take on new challenges”.
A statement from BAA makes no mention of the Terminal 5 opening which was overseen by Mr Bullock.
The company’s management has been thrown into sharp focus in the light of the opening problems and BAA’s recently appointed chief executive Colin Matthews has been introducing structural changes emphasising the central importance of Heathrow to the company.
Mr Brown, aged 44, went to Queen’s University, Belfast, and has been chief operating officer at London Underground for the past five years.
He has been a member of the Police Authority for the British Transport Police and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He was appointed a member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) by the Queen following her Golden Jubilee in 2002.
He describes his outside interests as “family, friends, going to the gym when I can fit it in”.
Virgin flies out Special Olympics team
26 September 2007
Link: Video pictures of departure
The British Special Olympics team flew out from Heathrow to Shanghai – courtesy of Virgin Atlantic.
They will take part in the summer world games, designed for competitors with learning difficulties.
England goalkeeper David James was on hand to wish the 159 competitors farewell as they departed on a flight from Terminal 3.
The British team comprises 16 squads in sports ranging from athletics to sailing.
“The World Games is the pinnacle towards which all our athletes strive and is a chance for them to showcase their abilities and talents on a worldwide level, proving that they deserve just as many accolades as other world-class athletes” said Lawrie McMenemy, chairman of Special Olympics GB.
Demo for exiled leader
10 September 2007
Supporters of former Pakistan premiere Nawaz Sharif blocked a section of the Terminal 3 check-in area as he flew home to try and end his political exile.
Police and airport staff struggled to control the chanting crowd of around 200 as they surrounded Sharif before his departure on a PIA flight to Islamabad.
Passengers looked on shocked as the activists, some waving placards and flags, jostled and shouted in support of the former leader.
Sharif, who had been living in exile in London, eventually made his way slowly through the crowd to board his flight.
Despite his efforts, he was arrested on arrival in Pakistan and deported back out on a flight to the middle east.
Security high for Israeli squad
6 September 2007
Armed police were on duty in Terminal 1 as the Israeli football squad arrived at Heathrow ready to face England on the soccer pitch.
A substantial security operation was mounted as the Israelis arrived aboard an El Al flight from Tel Aviv.
In the event the players and their entourage strolled through the airport and boarded a coach to take them their team hotel without incident.
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Freed journalist gets welcome
16 July 2007
BBC Journalist Alan Johnston was given VIP treatment when he flew into Heathrow after being held as a hostage for four months by Palestinian militants.
Johnston, 45, flew in from Israel aboard the scheduled BA service and spent an hour or so at Heathrow before travelling up to Scotland to be reunited with his family.
Looking buoyant despite his ordeal, he posed for pictures outside the Hounslow Suite before completing his journey.
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Fans farewell to Beckhams
12 July 2007
Fans and the media were out in force as the Beckhams jetted out through Terminal 1 to start their new life in Los Angeles.
Although familiar figures at Heathrow - David, Victoria and their three sons took centre stage as they flew out on BA.
Police were on duty to escort footballer David and his family through a crowd of wellwishers who had gathered near the premium check-in area. Beckham was ready to join Amercian soccer team LA Galaxy on his arrival.
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Hero Gurkha arrives for treatment
4 July 2007
An 84 year old Gurkha who won the Victoria Cross flew into Heathrow after intitially being refused entry by immigration officials.
Tul Bahada Pun was originally refused permission to enter Britain and receive medical treatment after the government said he did not have "strong ties with Britain".
But following a media campaign and outcry from veteran organisations, the decision was reversed. Pun, who gained his medal for assaulting a Japanese machine gun post in the second world war, arrived aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight from Delhi.
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