Ruth Haines
Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the largest airport in London, handling over 80 million passengers annually. Located in the west of the city, in the London borough of Hillingdon, Heathrow has four terminals and two parallel runways. The airport is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, with around 90 airlines making it their base. Heathrow is the second closest of London's six airports to the centre of the city.
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What You'll Learn
Heathrow is the largest and busiest airport in London and the UK
Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the largest airport in London and the UK. It is located in the west of the city, in the London borough of Hillingdon, and is considered the main gateway to the United Kingdom for non-European visitors. Heathrow has four terminals and two parallel runways, with a third runway proposed for the future. The airport is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, with over 80 airlines flying to more than 180 destinations worldwide.
Heathrow is also the busiest airport in the UK, handling over 83 million passengers annually. In 2015, it became the third busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger numbers, after Atlanta and Beijing-Capital. It is also the busiest airport in Europe by total passenger numbers and the fourth busiest globally for international passenger numbers. Heathrow serves six continents and is London's long-distance hub, with New York being the most popular destination.
The airport is accessible via the M4 and M25 motorways, as well as the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station, which takes just 15 minutes. The Piccadilly Line on the London Underground also connects the airport to Central London destinations, although this journey takes about an hour.
Heathrow began as a small airfield in 1929, known as the Great West Aerodrome. It was expanded during World War II for long-distance military aircraft and opened as a civil airport in 1946, originally named London Airport. The airport was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966 to avoid confusion with other London airports, Gatwick and Stansted.
Heathrow has faced challenges with its capacity, often operating at 99% or more, which has impacted its ability to expand services to new destinations. Despite this, Heathrow has implemented various retail initiatives and services to enhance the passenger experience, such as personal shoppers and "reserve and collect" options for shoppers.
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Heathrow's history and development
Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, is the UK's largest and busiest airport. It is also the busiest airport in Europe and the fourth busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. Heathrow Airport Holdings own and operate the airport, which serves as the primary hub for British Airways and the main operating base for Virgin Atlantic.
Heathrow Airport was founded in 1929 as a small airfield called Great West Aerodrome on land southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow, from which the airport takes its name. The land was purchased by British aero engineer and aircraft builder Richard Fairey, who used it to assemble and test aircraft. The first annual garden party fly-in was hosted by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) in 1935. During World War II, the government requisitioned the land to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft. An RAF-style control tower was built, and a "Star of David" pattern of runways was laid.
After World War II, the airfield was transformed into a much larger airport. It was opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport, with its first departure to Buenos Aires via Lisbon, marking the first long-haul flight to South America from the UK. Heathrow's first terminal for short-haul flights, the Europa Building (now Terminal 2), opened in 1955. Terminal 1, which was the base for British Airways' domestic and European network, was formally opened in 1969 by Queen Elizabeth and closed in June 2015. Terminal 3 opened in 1961, followed by Terminal 4 in 1986, and Terminal 5 in 2008.
Heathrow Airport has continued to expand and develop over the years, with two parallel east-west runways, four operational passenger terminals, and one cargo terminal as of 2024. The airport has also implemented new technology and enhanced the passenger experience, becoming a major global travel hub.
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Heathrow's terminals and runways
Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, is the largest and busiest airport in the UK. It is also the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world based on passenger traffic. The airport is the primary hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. It is also a base for Lufthansa.
Heathrow has four operational passenger terminals and one cargo terminal. Terminal 1, opened in 1969 by Queen Elizabeth II, was closed in June 2015. Terminal 2, also known as The Queen's Terminal, was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in June 2014. Terminal 3 opened in 1961, and Terminal 4 in 1986. Terminal 5, which opened in March 2008, is home to British Airways.
Heathrow's runways are arranged in two parallel east-west pairs. The northern runway is 3,902 metres long, while the southern runway is 3,658 metres long. In 2015, the Airports Commission concluded that Heathrow was the best airport to increase air capacity in southeast England. The airport has since received approval to construct a third runway.
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Heathrow's ownership and employment
Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (formerly BAA) owns and runs Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited is, in turn, owned by FGP Topco Limited, a consortium owned and led by Ardian (22.61%), Qatar Investment Authority (20.00%), Public Investment Fund (15.01%), GIC (11.20%), Australian Retirement Trust (11.18%), China Investment Corporation (10.00%), Ferrovial S.A. (5.25%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (2.65%), and Universities Superannuation Scheme (2.10%).
The company makes money by charging landing fees and departing passenger levies to airlines and from ancillary operations such as retail, car parking, and property. Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited has debts of over £17 billion to banks and bondholders, making it one of the most indebted UK companies. However, 90% of its shares are held overseas.
Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited's head office is in the Compass Centre, on the grounds of Heathrow Airport in the London Borough of Hillingdon. The company has sold several airports in the last decade, including Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport, Southampton Airport, and Aberdeen Airport, to focus solely on Heathrow.
Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, is Heathrow's largest shareholder, with a 22.6% stake as of December 2024. They plan to acquire an additional 10% stake, which would increase their ownership to 32.6%. Ardian has significant experience in owning and operating European airports and has previously owned stakes in London Luton Airport and six airports in Italy. They emphasise their commitment to sustainability and net-zero, intending to support Heathrow's management team in growing the airport sustainably.
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Heathrow's transport links
Heathrow Airport is located 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London, in the London borough of Hillingdon. It is easily accessible by various means of transportation.
Heathrow Airport has three underground stations, at Terminal 2/3 and Terminal 4 and 5. The London Underground (also known as 'the Tube') runs from Heathrow to Central London in under an hour, with trains running every 10 minutes. Prices start from £5.50, making it one of the cheapest travel routes to London from Heathrow.
Another option is the Heathrow Express, which runs non-stop trains every 15 minutes from all terminals to Paddington station in Central London. The journey takes just 15 minutes, and from Paddington, passengers can transfer to the London Underground or the Elizabeth Line.
London's newest rail line also offers a convenient option, with trains running from Heathrow to Central London (Zone 1) in under 45 minutes, every 30 minutes. The fare for this route is £12.80, and passengers can pay using a contactless bank card, Oyster card, or by purchasing tickets at the station.
For those who prefer to travel by coach, there are coach services that run from Heathrow to Victoria coach station and other destinations across the UK. The coaches can be boarded outside Terminal 4, 5, and Heathrow's Central Bus Station, which is a short walk from Terminals 2 and 3.
Cycling is also an option for those who want to bring their bikes, and there are designated routes available for cyclists travelling to and from Heathrow.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Heathrow is the largest airport in London.
Heathrow has four terminals, numbered 2 to 5. Terminal 1 closed in 2015.
Heathrow currently has two runways. However, there are plans to build a third runway.
Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports, handling over 80 million passengers annually.
You can get to Heathrow from central London by train, tube, or taxi. The Heathrow Express to Paddington Station is the quickest route, but it is also the most expensive. The Piccadilly Line is a lot slower but more affordable.
