For many of us, airports are a necessary (evil) conduit to our destination; for Alain de Botton, renowned author of  The Art of Travel and Essays in Love they’re the “imaginative centres of our civilisation”. For one week last month, de Botton took on the unprecedented role of Heathrow’s writer-in-residence. His book, based on life inside Heathrow’s Terminal Five, captures the stories of staff and passers by.

Looking beyond the regime of endless delays, queues and bag checks to be endured  it is clear that airports are also the set drop of a kaleidoscope of unfolding stories and emotional encounters for those journeying through. For an author like de Botton, who is deeply fascinated by people, the airport is the ultimate environment of inspiration.

As he wrote, airport visitors could read some of his work to date on the large TV screen above his desk. And both passengers and airport staff were able to chat with him and share their stories.Heathrow has given the author access all areas and are expecting a reportage style. It’s a really innovative idea by the airport to allow such a degree of creative control to a writer. And, it launched the same month as another striking innovation: the driverless personal transport pods.

Writing at the Airport: A Heathrow Diary launched in Heathrow on 23rd September; further information and extracts from the book can be found at www.alaindebotton.com/a_week_at_the_airport.asp

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