- Today, 22nd February, marks 60 years since The Beatles landed at Heathrow Airport following their pivotal first trip to North America
- Thousands of fans struck by “Beatlemania” gathered to wave the musicians farewell and welcome them home for the February 1964 tour
- To celebrate, Heathrow colleagues have “come together” to recreate some of The Beatles’ iconic album covers, with the legendary band’s greatest hits playing across the airport’s terminals today
Today (22nd February) marks 60 years since The Beatles returned from their first tour to North America in 1964. The iconic band landed at Heathrow, then London Airport, to be welcomed by a crowd of over 4,000 adoring fans following their two-week trip across the United States.
To celebrate the anniversary of their return, Heathrow colleagues from the Terminal 5 Passenger Experience Team have come together to recreate three of The Beatles’ most famous album covers: Abbey Road, The Red Album, and Help!. Favourite songs by The Beatles are also being played across Heathrow’s terminals today to commemorate band-members Paul, John, Ringo, and George’s return to home soil.
The band departed on Pan Am flight 101 from Heathrow Airport to New York City on February 7th, 1964, just one week after their hit single “I want to hold your hand” reached number one on the Billboard Charts. During the trip the Liverpudlian band became the most well-known group in America and in the six months that followed, achieved seventeen Top 40 singles and six number one hits.
In its 78-year history, Heathrow has played a part in numerous cultural moments including HM Queen Elizabeth II first stepping foot on UK soil after becoming sovereign while in Kenya, England Rugby Team’s touch down in the UK following their 2003 World Cup win, as well as The Beatles’ departure and arrival for their subsequent 1966 North America tour.
Heathrow welcomes have also been immortalised in the opening scene of the romantic comedy film Love Actually, with our teams lucky enough to see the same emotional reunions every day as the UK's hub airport continues to welcome passengers from all around the world.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
Heathrow colleagues recreate The Beatles’ album covers:
Heathrow colleagues recreating The Beatles’ 1969 album cover “Abbey Road” on a pelican crossing outside Terminal 5.
Heathrow colleagues recreating The Beatles’ 1973 album cover “The Red Album” from a balcony inside Terminal 5 Arrivals.
Heathrow colleagues recreating The Beatles’ 1965 album cover “Help!” outside Terminal 5 Arrivals.
About Heathrow
Heathrow is the UK’s international gateway and the largest airport in Europe – connecting to 239 destinations in 89 countries. The airport welcomes over 200,000 passengers on roughly 1,300 flights each day, and serves as a Britain’s hub for trade, tourism and investment. Approximately 75,000 colleagues work at Heathrow – the airport directly employs about 10% of them, with the rest working for Team Heathrow partners including airlines, ground handlers and retailers.
