An anonymous Heathrow Airport staff member has revealed that conditions in the terminals are dangerously hot, with passengers and staff suffering in temperatures reaching 50C during the UK heatwave. The source, speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, claimed that passenger safety was not being prioritised and that deaths could occur due to the extreme heat.
Temperatures Recorded at 50C in Terminal 5
The staff member, who works in customer service, said they recorded temperatures of up to 50C in Terminal 5 on Tuesday, with some areas having zero ventilation. The jetty was described as particularly unbearable, with staff “dripping with sweat.” The individual suggested that the air conditioning was either broken or turned off.
The source stressed that management had tried to raise the issue but hit a “brick wall” with no action taken. British Airways is responsible for planes leaving the terminal, while Heathrow Airport oversees the terminal infrastructure.
Passengers and Staff Suffering
“Passengers are distressed. They come down and say ‘my god that is awful’,” the anonymous source said. They described exposing passengers with health issues or frailty to such conditions as “criminal.” The source accused Heathrow bosses of not warning passengers about the heat, leaving staff to inform them.
Earlier this week, Heathrow posted a social media message advising passengers to stay hydrated as temperatures rose. However, staff have also had enough, with the source saying, “Everybody is sick to the back teeth of it.” One colleague submitted a safety report after finishing a shift “soaked through.”
Union Concerns
Steve Garelick, Membership Development Officer at GMB Union, told Express.co.uk that members reported struggling with the heat. “One member said the jet bridge feels like a greenhouse… The heat is all pent up inside a metal tube,” he said. Garelick also warned that abuse from passengers could rise in hot weather, increasing staff concerns.
The anonymous source called for improved infrastructure, noting that “weather conditions have changed somewhat in the past 30 years, they’ve installed everything as per weather condition 30 years ago.” Heathrow Airport and GMB Union have been approached for comment.
