Autonomous Cleaning Fleet at Heathrow Receives Publicly Selected Names Ahead of Peak Travel Season

(IN SHORT) Heathrow Airport has announced the names of its 24 autonomous cleaning robots following a nationwide competition that drew thousands of entries. The winning names, inspired by pop culture and British humour, include Fleetwood Vac, Meryl Sweep, and Air Floorce One. The robots, now equipped with name tags, operate across airport terminals and can clean up to 4,800 square metres daily using advanced technology. Introduced in partnership with Mitie, the fleet supports Heathrow’s cleaning operations alongside human staff. The initiative adds a creative and engaging element to the passenger experience, particularly during busy travel periods such as Easter.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 2026-Apr-2 — /Travel PR News/ — Heathrow Airport has unveiled the official names of its fleet of 24 autonomous cleaning robots, following a nationwide competition that attracted thousands of creative submissions. The initiative highlights both the airport’s commitment to innovation and the public’s enthusiasm for light-hearted, creative engagement.

The naming campaign invited participants to submit suggestions inspired by pop culture, aviation, and classic British humour. After a competitive voting process, a selection of playful and inventive names was chosen, with entries such as Fleetwood Vac, Meryl Sweep, Scrubrina Carpenter, and Bruce Springclean emerging as favourites. Other standout names include Air Floorce One, RoboMop, and Cleany McClean Face, reflecting a blend of cultural references and witty wordplay.

The competition was held over the course of a month as a tribute to Heathrow’s growing fleet of cleaning robots, which have become a familiar presence across the airport’s terminals. With the busy Easter travel period underway, passengers are now able to spot the newly named robots as they carry out their daily operations throughout the airport.

Each of the 24 robots has been reintroduced with custom name tags, adding a layer of personality to their role in maintaining cleanliness across the terminals. Travellers may encounter names such as Obi-Wan Cleanobi, Moptimus Prime, Doctor Who-ver, and Mary Moppins while moving through the airport.

The robots are capable of cleaning up to 4,800 square metres per day, using advanced navigation systems and water-recycling technology. They can operate for up to three hours before automatically returning to their charging stations, supporting Heathrow’s efforts to maintain high standards of hygiene and operational efficiency.

Daniel Edwards noted that the naming initiative showcases the creativity and humour of the public, adding a unique and engaging element to the passenger experience. He emphasized that the project is particularly timely as travel volumes increase during peak seasons.

The robotic fleet was introduced in collaboration with Mitie, which has been responsible for cleaning operations at Heathrow since 2022. Alongside 850 cleaning and hygiene professionals working across the airport, the robots form part of a broader strategy to combine human expertise with advanced technology to enhance efficiency and service quality.

As the UK’s primary international gateway, Heathrow continues to invest in innovation to improve passenger experience, while maintaining its role as a key hub for global travel, trade, and tourism.

About Heathrow

Heathrow is the UK’s international gateway and the most connected airport in the world – serving over 230 destinations across 85 countries. The most punctual and reliable hub in Europe welcomes over 200,000 passengers on roughly 1,300 flights each day, and serves as Britain’s hub for trade, tourism and investment. Over 80,000 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.

Media contact:

Email: media_centre@heathrow.com
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SOURCE: Heathrow Airport Limited