The airport said on Monday (25 July) it would be extending its annual Here to Help programme in in response to growing passenger demand after claiming to have experienced "the equivalent of 40 years’ growth in just four weeks".

TV’s Rylan will front the so-called "purple people" initiative, which is now into its 12th year forming part, said Heathrow, of its efforts "to find a way back to normal after a challenging period". Rylan has become an honorary member of the team, and has been spotting pushing trolleys and helping passengers pack their liquids correctly to speed up the security process.

"This year sees the first summer in three years that people will be embarking on summer holidays en masse, with many passengers travelling through Heathrow not having been abroad since 2019," said Heathrow.

"Passenger numbers so far this summer are more than 500% higher than this time last year so terminals are busy, which is why Heathrow has taken a number of steps to help make passenger journeys smoother. This includes working with airlines to manage schedules, increasing security, engineering, and services teams, and bolstering the Here to Help initiative."

The Here to Help team will welcome passengers to the airport, direct them to check-in desks, and help manage issues such as oversized hand luggage and hand luggage packing. They will also be on hand to assist with any necessary pre-departure paperwork and Covid-19 testing.

Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow’s chief operating officer, 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."