Heathrow reveals recruitment drive as international travel restarts

Credit: London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has begun recruiting for over 600 new frontline roles,  as the restart of transatlantic travel and easing of international restrictions boosts confidence in the aviation sector’s recovery.  

While passenger numbers at the hub airport remain 56 per cent down on pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, the move to end the U.S. travel ban has revived the airport, as the market accounts for 20 per cent of Heathrow’s passenger traffic and 31 per cent of the port’s cargo tonnage. The airport is kicking off this recruitment drive now to ensure that it is well equipped to handle a predicted rise in passenger numbers ahead of summer 2022. 

The new security and engineering jobs will be among the first frontline roles to have been created at Heathrow since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport is recruiting for security officers, who will play a vital role in providing exceptional passenger service, while keeping a critical piece of the UK’s national infrastructure secure. Heathrow is also advertising a wide variety of engineering opportunities for colleagues to help keep the airport running smoothly as passenger demand returns.   

The new recruits will undergo an extensive training programme in order to achieve the required security accreditations. The successful candidates for these positions will receive a competitive salary and attractive benefits package.  

The easing of travel restrictions has progressed significantly, in line with the success of the vaccine roll out, but there is still more to do to ensure a return to frictionless travel. At the next review in January 2022, Ministers must reassess testing requirements for fully vaccinated passengers and the need for a Passenger Locator Form and bring the UK back in line with its European counterparts. Doing this, will supercharge the sector’s recovery, which will support the country’s economic bounce back, whilst keeping hopes of a Global Britain alive. 

Heathrow Chief People Officer,  Paula Stannett said: “This is an incredible time to start a career in aviation and to be at the forefront of a world-class organisation determined to build back better as we recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of Heathrow’s security officers have gone on to have long and fulfilling careers in various parts of our airport and the wider aviation sector, so this really is a rewarding opportunity at a pivotal time for our industry. We look forward to welcoming our new joiners before the summer, at the beginning of what we are sure will be an enriching time at the UK’s only hub airport.” 

Heathrow has been at the forefront of advocacy and change on reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector. At the start of 2020, the UK aviation sector, became the first national aviation sector in the world to commit to net zero by 2050, with Heathrow playing a key role. In addition to recently incorporating the first shipment of SAF into its fuel supply system, all of the airport’s infrastructure runs on 100 per cent renewable electricity, with plans underway to switch away from gas heating at the airport by the mid-2030s, becoming fully zero carbon.