The documentary going behind the scenes of the airport reveals how staff manage to get hundreds of planes in the air at the correct time. Cameras follow cleaners, ground staff and members of the flight crew as they race to get the world's biggest passenger plane ready for departure. Plus, a royal guest pays a flying visit, and an airport manager tries to defuse a major international protest
The documentary offers an insight into the daily problems facing the airport staff as they process 100,000 departing passengers every day and get their flights away on time. Dispatcher Callie and ramp manager Steve have their plans thrown into chaos when a passenger disappears after checking on to their flight. Security man Sundeep has to search an unusually dressed traveller, while paparazzi photographer Kate is on the lookout for celebrities on their way through the airport.
Heavy fog throws Heathrow into turmoil and new terminal manager Callum is faced with hundreds of angry and stranded passengers stuck overnight at the airport, while visibility has dropped to less than 100m on the airfield and safety officer Chris is forced to marshal planes. Manager Nilam reveals the secrets of one of Heathrow's most exclusive first-class lounges and dispatcher James and his team hunt around the terminal for late passengers for a flight to Pakistan
An American airline has one of its busiest days as hundreds of people fly to the USA for Thanksgiving, while Heathrow employee Sunita helps a woman who has lost her two-year old daughter. Ground staff use measures to disperse birds from the runway to prevent any collisions with aircraft, resident paramedic Izzy treats a pregnant passenger suffering from serious abdominal pain who is due to fly to Brazil that day and British Airways employees prepare for the inaugural flight of their new £185 million aircraft the Dreamliner
Storm Imogen causes chaos on the runways and in the terminals, with airside safety officer Simon keeping his eyes peeled for any potentially dangerous debris that could damage the landing planes. In Terminal 4, manager Sunita looks after dozens of passengers whose flight to Delhi has been cancelled, while trainee engineer Elliot prepares to get his hands dirty as he clears a blocked sewage pit - an essential part of the airport's operations that no passenger normally sees.
Staff at Heathrow prepare for the arrival of Air Force 1, and although the airport is quieter than usual, it is still a huge effort logistically to make sure things run smoothly. Meanwhile, security officer Estafania scrutinises the contents of passengers' hand luggage, as well as their face masks, and airside officer Ian has his hands full.
Storm Eunice wreaks havoc at Heathrow airport, as staff deal with a deluge of delays and unhappy passengers, and also try to deter debris from hitting the runway. Elsewhere, passenger experience manager Harry has to deal with a breach of security that affects hundreds of passengers jetting off on holiday
The Red Arrows fly over the airport during the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, but Passenger Experience Manager Suki has to wake a passenger and get him onboard a flight to Toronto. Also racing to catch their flight are a mother and daughter flying to South Africa to attend a close family relative's funeral. Emotions run high as time ticks away without the correct paperwork, so it's down to Passenger Experience Manager Harry to come to the rescue - but is it already too late?
A technical hitch arises when an A380 lands, and six times the regular number of cleaners are needed to help meet a tight schedule ahead of take-off. A suspicious looking substance is spotted by security when a bag is scanned through cutting-edge technology that's being trialled at the airport, while Passenger Experience Manager Suki helps a taxi driver who's doubled over in pain with a trapped nerve.