London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport
Name	London Heathrow Airport
IATA	LHR
ICAO	EGLL
Owner	Heathrow Airport Holdings
Operator	Heathrow Airport Limited
City-served	London
Location	London Borough of Hillingdon
Elevation-f	83
Elevation-m	25
Coordinates	51, 28, 39, N...
Website	https://www.heathrow.com/
R1-number	09L/27R
R1-length-m	3,902
R1-length-f	12,802
R1-surface	Asphalt
R2-number	09R/27L
R2-length-m	3,660
R2-length-f	12,008
R2-surface	Asphalt
Stat-year	2023
Stat1-header	Passengers
Stat1-data	79.2 million
Stat2-header	Aircraft movements
Stat2-data	454,000
Stat3-header	Cargo (tonnes)
Stat3-data	1.37 million

London Heathrow Airport. It is the primary international airport serving London, the capital of the United Kingdom, and is one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world by total passenger traffic. Located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, west of Central London, it serves as a major gateway for global travel and a critical hub for the British aviation industry. The airport is owned by Heathrow Airport Holdings and operated by Heathrow Airport Limited, functioning as the principal hub for British Airways and a key operating base for Virgin Atlantic.

History

The site's aviation history began in the early 20th century as a small airfield named Great West Aerodrome, used for aircraft assembly and testing by Fairey Aviation Company and the Air Ministry. Its transformation into a major airport commenced during the Second World War when it was requisitioned for development as a Royal Air Force transport base, initially known as RAF Heston. Civilian operations began on a dedicated "London Airport" in 1946, with the first scheduled flight departing for Buenos Aires operated by British South American Airways. Expansion was rapid throughout the post-war era, with the iconic control tower and original terminals constructed during the 1950s under the guidance of architect Frederick Gibberd. The airport was officially renamed in 1966, and its development continued with major projects like the construction of Terminal 4 for British Airways and the later, controversial opening of the state-of-the-art Terminal 5.

Terminals

The airport currently operates four operational passenger terminals, numbered 2, 3, 4, and 5, each functioning as a distinct mini-hub for specific airline alliances and carriers. Terminal 2, also known as The Queen's Terminal, reopened in 2014 and primarily serves the Star Alliance members, including United Airlines and Air Canada. Terminal 3 handles a mix of airlines from various alliances, such as members of Oneworld like American Airlines and Qantas, alongside several long-haul carriers. Terminal 4 is the base for SkyTeam airlines, including Delta Air Lines and KLM, as well as several other international carriers. Terminal 5, the newest and largest, is exclusively used by British Airways and Iberia, featuring three satellite buildings connected by an underground automated people mover system.

Operations and infrastructure

It operates with two parallel east-west runways, 09L/27R and 09R/27L, which handle an exceptionally high volume of traffic, leading to frequent congestion and operational challenges. The air traffic control services are provided by NATS from the prominent control tower located between the runways. Cargo operations are significant, with dedicated facilities handling freight for carriers like Cargolux and serving as a European hub for Singapore Airlines Cargo. The airport's infrastructure includes extensive maintenance hangars operated by companies like Menzies Aviation and British Airways Maintenance Cardiff, and it is a major base for aircraft refueling operations managed by Air BP and other fuel consortiums.

Airlines and destinations

As a premier global hub, it offers connections to over 180 destinations in more than 90 countries, served by nearly 90 airlines. The dominant carrier is British Airways, which operates the vast majority of its long-haul network from here, with key routes to cities like New York-JFK, Hong Kong, and Johannesburg. Other major full-service carriers include Virgin Atlantic, with flagship services to Los Angeles and Shanghai, and numerous international flag carriers such as Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. The airport also hosts a significant number of flights operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Air France, solidifying its status as a critical node in global alliance networks.

Ground transportation

Surface access is provided by multiple high-capacity transport links. The fastest rail connection is the Heathrow Express service to London Paddington station, while the Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line offer direct London Underground services into central London. Major road access is via the M4 motorway and the M25 motorway, with the airport served by numerous National Express and Megabus coach services to destinations across the United Kingdom. Private vehicle access is facilitated by short and long-stay car parks, with taxi and private hire services regulated by Transport for London.

Accidents and incidents

Despite its high traffic volume, its safety record is strong, though several notable incidents have occurred in its vicinity. A significant accident was the 1972 crash of British European Airways Flight 548, a Hawker Siddeley Trident that stalled shortly after takeoff, resulting in the loss of all on board. In 1988, a British Airtours Boeing 737 experienced a catastrophic engine failure and fire during takeoff, an event that led to major changes in international aviation evacuation procedures. Other serious incidents include the 2008 crash of a British Airways Boeing 777 arriving from Beijing Capital International Airport, which landed short of the runway after a dual engine power loss, and a 2013 incident where an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner caught fire while parked.

Category:Airports in England Category:Transport in London Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Hillingdon