How do you handle 200 extra full tins of bags over a two-day period, with the spotlight of the world’s media on you?
AiQ were engaged by Gebler Tooth Architects to do just that for the London Olympics 2012.
We had to predict the capacity and usage of the London 2012 Pop Up temporary terminal, solely for use by athletes in the run up to, and departing, the Games. Our task focused on the departing athletes, with only two-day window after the extinguishing of the flame to get thousands of athletes to their home countries, from the Olympic Village to the temporary pop-up terminal at Heathrow.
This meant working with multiple stakeholders in order to plan, simulate and organise check in facilities for the athletes and, more importantly, their 7,000 bags.
This huge operation involved predicting how many coaches were required to pick up the athletes from the Village, as well as how many lorries were need to transport their bags the night before they left. This unusual arrangement gave the security team time to scan bags through a temporary security screening area and work with the ground handlers and airlines to get the tins onto the right flights, at the right time. This involved negotiating temporary FCS in one of the most space-limited Hub airports in the world, as well as working with Heathrow’s MUP and FCS plans.
Using our experience and skill set in managing stakeholders to the maximum, we were involved in a six month long political- and security-sensitive discussion with many world-wide authorities, including the Department of Transport, to allow athlete’s bags to come airside without screening them first. This was the largest stakeholder integration exercise ever undertaken by Heathrow.
And when the project got underway, we were on the ground working with the stakeholders and ground workers to ensure that the process ran as smoothly as possible. From unloading from the lorries, to temporary storage facilities, to screening, to FCS and to allocation to each flight, AIQ Consulting worked with everyone to complete the process.
We found capacity where there was none, we handled multiple important stakeholders within a large and sensitive operation and we provided athletes with an overwhelmingly positive return experience from London 2012.
Our integrated approach, efficient communication and decisive management gives us an advantage over others in our field. We are experts in finding unseen capacity, planning and managing smooth operations and improving passenger experience. You can find out more about this project from our case study, or contact us today to find out more.