The peak arrivals day for the Paralympics came on August 22 when around 2,100 athletes and officials came through Heathrow, with the airport handling over 2,800 wheelchairs during the Games.

The Paralympics naturally presented a different and greater operational challenge than the Olympics given the complexity of handling increased numbers of Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRMs).

"The Heathrow team has spent the last seven years preparing for this challenge," explained Nick Cole, head of London 2012 planning at Heathrow Airport.

"We conducted rehearsals to test our processes and procedures, and have spent more than £20 million ($32 million/€25 million) in preparing for the Games.

"This includes installing new ramps and lifts to manage the number of passengers with reduced mobility using Heathrow, and we have given extra training for our staff and volunteers on the safe way to handle specialist wheelchairs."

In order to meet the challenge posed by the Paralympic Games, Heathrow partnered with mobility charity Whizz-Kidz.

The charity offered first-hand, expert guidance on how to further improve the airport's accessibility.

Heathrow Airport handled over 2,800 wheelchairs during London 2012

It audited Heathrow's terminal facilities and suggested a number of improvements, including increasing the number of specialist lifts, known as ambilifts, which are used to help PRMs embark and disembark aircraft.

Heathrow now has 12 ambilifts – more than any other airport in Europe.

The charity also recommended obtaining 13 scissor lifts and installing 100 new ramps to help load and unload wheelchairs, upgrading and increasing its fleet of buggies for transporting PRMs through the airport to a total of 60 vehicles, installing four new lifts to help return wheelchairs to the aircraft door, increasing the number of lightweight aisle chairs and self-propelled wheelchairs to 38 and 20 respectively, an on-site wheelchair repair service and installing new accessible toilets.

"These improvements provide a positive lasting legacy with an enhanced level of accessibility for PRMs," added Cole.

"We are very passionate about this and this dedication is becoming infectious across the airport."

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