UK. Heathrow is marking the safe reopening of international travel and its 75th anniversary by joining forces with more than ten industry partners to make thousands of pounds worth of free flights and experiences available to passengers travelling from the airport.
The leading London travel hub – which has welcomed over 2.5 billion passengers since its opening in 1946 – said it has launched the initiative to help reunite those in the UK with their family and friends around the world and help people to “rediscover the joy of travel”.
Partners supporting the initiative – with offerings including flights, free meals, gifts and travel essentials – include British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Blue Air, Gordon Ramsay Plane Food, Fortnum & Mason, Leon, WHSmith, Macallan Whisky and CignPost Diagnostics.
The scheme follows the further easing of Government travel restrictions for travellers, who no longer need to quarantine on their return to the UK if they are fully vaccinated and travelling from certain destinations.
To provide further flexibility and reassurance, winners of the “Come Fly Again” flights and experiences will have up to six months to redeem their packages.
“Now, more than ever, it’s important that we help to reconnect friends, family and loved ones across the globe, so we’re happy to be able to work with our incredible airport partners to make the experience more special after what has been such a difficult year, for so many” – Heathrow Chief Operating Officer Ross Baker
The scheme launches as new Heathrow research reveals that 62% of British people haven’t seen some of their loved ones in over a year, with the typical family now having a distance of 1,724 miles between them and their furthest away loved one. That’s the equivalent of travelling from London Heathrow to Tenerife, Istanbul or Moscow.
Meanwhile, one in three people (33%) said reuniting with friends and family is the driving force behind wanting to travel again.
Also according to the research, two in five (38%) of people feel desperate to travel overseas again, with Spain the most popular destination for Brits hoping to book this year.
Nearly half of British people surveyed feel optimistic about the future of travel, with over a third (37%) now feeling safe to go abroad due to COVID vaccinations. The most popular getaways they are keen to book first include a beach holiday (40%), a trip to the wilderness (36%) and an adventure holiday (22%).
The research also found that the pandemic has made us more appreciative of travel, with two in five (40%) saying it is more important to them now compared to before the pandemic.
Over a third (35%) said that they have struggled to switch off from work in the last year, and nearly two thirds (63%) felt the negative impacts of staying at home on their mental health.
Many agreed that this is usually helped by being able to go abroad, with three in four (75%) saying that holidays help them to take a break from the stresses of life; and 76% instantly feel the positive effects on their mental health when on holiday.
Heathrow Chief Operating Officer Ross Baker said: “As we celebrate 75 years of connecting the public to the world of travel, we’re delighted to be welcoming more passengers back to Heathrow.”
He added: “Now, more than ever, it’s important that we help to reconnect friends, family and loved ones across the globe, so we’re happy to be able to work with our incredible airport partners to make the experience more special after what has been such a difficult year, for so many.”
View the video made to launch the initiative here.
Those looking to see family and friends face to face again can enter for the chance to win a free travel experience at Heathrow.com/comeflyagain or via ComeFlyAgain@heathrow.com
