Heathrow Airport Code: What's The Significance Of Lhr?

Heathrow Airport, located in the west of London, is the UK's largest and busiest airport. It is also the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world based on passenger traffic. The airport code for Heathrow Airport is LHR, with the ICAO code EGLL.

Heathrow Airport's location and transport links

Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles west of Central London, is easily accessible by both private and public transport. The airport is connected to the M4 motorway, which is linked to the M25 motorway and offers access to the whole country.

By Car

There are several parking options at Heathrow, including short- and long-stay multi-storey car parks.

By Coach and Bus

National Express coaches operate out of the Heathrow Airport Central Bus Station, which is located between Terminals 2 and 3. The central bus station is open 24 hours and offers connections to central London (Victoria) and destinations across the UK. National Express is the only direct connection between Heathrow and other airports, running 100 services per day.

By Train

There are three train services to Central London:

• Heathrow Express: a non-stop service to London Paddington, with trains departing every 15 minutes for the 15-minute journey.
• Elizabeth line: a stopping service to Abbey Wood and Shenfield via Paddington and central London, with six trains per hour.
• London Underground (Piccadilly line): four stations serve the airport: Terminals 2 & 3, Terminal 4, Terminal 5, and Hatton Cross, which serves the maintenance areas. The typical journey time from Heathrow Central to Central London is around 40-50 minutes.

By Plane

Heathrow Airport caters to 86 airlines, serving 193 destinations worldwide.

Heathrow's history and development

London Heathrow Airport, also known as Heathrow Airport or London Airport, is the main international airport serving London, United Kingdom. Heathrow Airport is located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London and is the largest of the six international airports serving London. Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in Europe and the fourth busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.

Heathrow Airport was founded as a small airfield in 1929 but was developed into a much larger airport after World War II. The airport opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport. The airport was renamed Heathrow Airport in the last week of September 1966, to avoid confusion with the other two airports which serve London, Gatwick and Stansted.

In its early years, what is now Heathrow Airport was known as the Great West Aerodrome, sometimes referred to as Heathrow Aerodrome. The first known mention of Heathrow, then a semi-rural lane, was in 1410. Heathrow divided farmland and heath until 1819 when the heath also became farmland.

In 1915, Fairey Aviation, a British aircraft manufacturer, began assembling and flight-testing its aircraft from Northolt Aerodrome, located about six miles north of the modern Heathrow Airport. Fairey Aviation needed a new airfield for flight testing after being ordered by the government to cease using Northolt in 1928. In 1929, Fairey Aviation bought 148 acres of farmland in four adjoining plots near southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow from four local landowners for about £1,500. The airfield was declared operational in June 1930.

During World War II, the government requisitioned land in and around Heathrow, including Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft bound for the Far East. Work demolishing Heathrow and clearing land for the runways started in 1944. By the time the war had ended, the RAF no longer needed another aerodrome and it was officially handed over to the Air Ministry as London's new civil airport on 1 January 1946.

The airport has since undergone numerous expansions, including the addition of several terminals and runways. In 1955, Queen Elizabeth II opened the airport's first permanent passenger terminal, the Europa Building (later known as Terminal 2), as well as the Queens Building. Terminal 1 opened in 1969, followed by Terminal 3 in 1970, Terminal 4 in 1986, and Terminal 5 in 2008.

Airlines and destinations

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is the UK's largest and busiest airport, serving as the main international airport for London, England's capital city. It is the busiest airport in Europe and the fourth busiest in the world by passenger traffic.

Heathrow is the primary hub for British Airways and the main operating base for Virgin Atlantic. It is used by over 80 airlines, flying to more than 180 destinations in 84 countries.

Terminal 2

Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Beijing Capital Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, EVA Air, Icelandair, JetBlue, Loganair, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and Widerøe.

Terminal 3

Aeroméxico, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Finnair, Hainan Airlines, Iran Air, Japan Airlines, LATAM, Middle East Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, RwandAir, Sri Lankan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Vistara.

Terminal 4

Aeroitalia, Air Algérie, Air Astana, Air France, Air Malta, Air Mauritius, Air Serbia, Azerbaijan Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, El Al, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Tunisair, Vietnam Airlines, and WestJet.

Terminal 5

British Airways and Iberia.

Heathrow's ranking and awards

Heathrow Airport, also known as London Heathrow Airport, is one of the best airports in the world. In 2024, it was ranked 21st in the World Airport Awards, up one spot from the previous year. It was recognised for its wide range of amenities, efficient operation, and good connections to central London.

Heathrow is the UK's largest and busiest airport, as well as the busiest airport in Europe and the seventh busiest in the world based on passenger traffic. In 2023, Heathrow was the fourth busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic and the second busiest by international passenger traffic. It is the airport with the most international connections in the world.

Heathrow has won several awards over the years. In 2017, it won the International Airport Review award in the 'Security' category. Heathrow also won gold for the busiest airport in Europe. Additionally, Heathrow's Terminal 5 was voted Skytrax World's Best Airport Terminal in 2014 in the Annual World Airport Awards.

Heathrow has also been recognised as the ''most connected'' airport for two consecutive years. It is the primary hub for British Airways and the main operating base of Virgin Atlantic. Approximately 80-89 airlines fly from London Heathrow, taking passengers to over 180-214 destinations around the world.

Heathrow's terminals and runways

Heathrow Airport, also known as London Heathrow Airport, is the main international airport serving London. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system. Heathrow is located 14 miles west of Central London, in the London borough of Hillingdon.

Heathrow Airport has two parallel east-west runways and four operational passenger terminals (Terminals 2 to 5) and one cargo terminal. Terminals 2 and 3 are within walking distance of each other. Transfers from Terminals 2 and 3 to Terminals 4 and 5 can be made via the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express trains, or the London Underground Piccadilly line. Direct transfer between Terminals 4 and 5 is provided for free by the H30 bus route.

Terminal 2, also known as the Queen's Terminal, is the newest terminal and has 24 gates. It is primarily used by Star Alliance airlines and a few non-aligned airlines. Terminal 3 is home to Oneworld members (excluding Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Royal Air Maroc), SkyTeam members Aeroméxico, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Middle East Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and several unaffiliated carriers. Terminal 4 is home to the SkyTeam alliance (excluding Aeroméxico, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Middle East Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic), Oneworld carriers Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and Gulf Air, and most unaffiliated carriers. Terminal 5 is used exclusively by British Airways and its partner company Iberia.

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