Heathrow Airport unveils Union flag on runway
A giant Union Jack flag with an image of Her Majesty the Queen has been unveiled on Heathrow's runway to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. As you do.The 540 square metre artwork which measures 30 metres in length - three times the width of an A380's fuselage - is the first time ever an image has been painted on the airfield and was created using more than 400 litres of red, white and blue paint.
It has been positioned adjacent to the Northern runway so that passengers will be able to spot it from their flights, with Her Majesty's profile overlooking the runway and terminals. It is expected to be seen by 780,000 passengers.
Airport bosses say the flag marks the airport's role in six decades of regal globetrotting and that the Queen is the most travelled head of state in the world, having made 261 official overseas visits and 96 state visits to 116 countries.
Heathrow is also putting a number of celebratory Jubilee-themed initiatives in place including red carpets laid in Arrivals halls in all terminals, Diamond Jubilee and Union Jack flags being handed out and visitors will be invited to write messages of congratulations to the Queen in official books that will be sent to Buckingham Palace.John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow commercial director at Heathrow said: "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations mark the start of an important and historic summer for Heathrow. As the UK's hub Airport, we are delighted to welcome thousands of visitors to Heathrow to celebrate this momentous national occasion."
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