Lois Larson
Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport, has had several names throughout its history. From a small airfield in 1930 to a much larger airport after World War II, the airport has played a significant role in global aviation. With over 67 million passengers annually and serving as the primary hub for British Airways, Heathrow Airport's history is deeply intertwined with the evolution of air travel in the United Kingdom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original Name | London Airport |
| Year of Name Change | 1966 |
| Previous Names | Harmondsworth Aerodrome, Great West Aerodrome, Heathrow Aerodrome |
| Year of Establishment | 1946 |
| Previous Airfield Owner | Fairey Aviation |
| Airfield Owner's Profession | British aero engineer and aircraft builder |
| Airfield Owner's Name | Richard Fairey |
| Airfield Size | 150 acres |
| Airfield Features | A single grass runway and a handful of hastily erected buildings |
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What You'll Learn
Heathrow's origins as an airfield
Heathrow Airport, now the busiest airport in Europe, was founded as a small airfield in 1930. However, its origins stretch back even further. Before the Second World War, the site was home to a private airfield run by Fairey Aviation, which opened in 1929. Known as the Great West Aerodrome, it was situated near a hamlet known as 'Heath Row' on the outskirts of London.
In 1930, Richard Fairey, a British aero engineer and aircraft builder, bought a 150-acre plot of land from the Vicar of Harmondsworth for £15,000. He built a private airport to assemble and test aircraft, complete with a single grass runway and a handful of hastily erected buildings. This was the humble precursor to the world's busiest international airport. During the 1930s, Fairey Aviation developed a three-runway aerodrome in the Heathrow area, which was known variously as Harmondsworth Aerodrome, Great West Aerodrome, and Heathrow Aerodrome. From 1935 to 1939, the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) held its annual garden party fly-ins at Heathrow airfield, at the invitation of Richard Fairey.
During World War II, the government requisitioned land around the ancient agricultural village of Heath Row, including Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft bound for the Far East. An RAF-type control tower was constructed, and a 'Star of David' pattern of runways was laid, the longest of which was 3,000 yards long and 100 yards wide. Work demolishing Heath Row and clearing land for the runways started in 1944.
After the war, the RAF no longer needed another aerodrome, and the airfield was officially handed over to the Air Ministry as London's new civil airport on 1 January 1946. The first aircraft to take off from Heathrow was a converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight, which flew to Buenos Aires. The early passenger terminals were ex-military marquees, which formed a tented village along the Bath Road. They were primitive but comfortable, equipped with floral-patterned armchairs, settees, and small tables containing vases of fresh flowers. To reach the aircraft, passengers walked over wooden duckboards to protect their footwear from the muddy airfield.
In the late 1940s and 1950s, with air travel becoming more accessible to the general public, London needed to expand its aviation capacity. This led to the reopening of a newly renovated Gatwick Airport in 1958, with Queen Elizabeth II in ceremonial attendance. As Gatwick rose to prominence, it became clear that 'London Airport' needed a less generic name to distinguish it from its counterpart in the south. In 1966, the airport was renamed Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted, the other two airports serving London at the time.
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The Great West Aerodrome
Heathrow Airport, the world's busiest international airport, was originally called the Great West Aerodrome. The airport, which is located in west London, has its origins in the early days of aviation. In 1929, Fairey Aviation, a UK aircraft manufacturer, opened a private airfield near a hamlet called Heathrow. This airfield, known as the Great West Aerodrome, was a small facility with a single grass runway and a few hastily erected buildings. It served as a base for aircraft assembly and testing.
During World War II, the British government requisitioned the land around Heathrow, including the Great West Aerodrome, to construct 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 out, with the longest runway stretching 3,000 yards. In 1944, the ancient agricultural village of Heathrow was demolished to make way for further expansion.
After the war, the airfield was handed over to the Air Ministry and became London's new civil airport, officially established as London Airport in 1946. The early passenger terminals were ex-military marquees, equipped with floral-patterned furniture and fresh flowers. Heathrow Airport was renamed in 1966 to distinguish it from other London airports, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
Today, Heathrow Airport is a bustling hub, serving over 67 million passengers annually. It has four passenger terminals and a cargo terminal, with flights to over 180 destinations in more than 90 countries. Heathrow's rich history, from its early days as the Great West Aerodrome to its current status as a global aviation powerhouse, showcases the evolution of aviation and its impact on travel and connectivity.
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Heathrow's renaming in 1966
Heathrow Airport, officially established in 1946, was called 'London Airport' until 1966. The site's origins as an airfield, however, stretch back to the early 20th century.
In 1929, Fairey Aviation, a UK aircraft manufacturer, opened a private airfield near a hamlet known as 'Heath Row' on the outskirts of London. This airfield was known as the Great West Aerodrome. During World War II, the government requisitioned the land to build RAF Heston, a base for long-range troop-carrying aircraft. In 1944, the ancient agricultural village of Heath Row was demolished to make way for expansion work. After the war, the airfield was handed over to the Air Ministry as London's new civil airport.
By the late 1950s, air travel was becoming more accessible to the everyday person, and London needed to expand its aviation capacity. Gatwick Airport was reopened in 1958, and as it rose to prominence, it became clear that 'London Airport' needed a less generic name to distinguish it from its southern counterpart.
In the last week of September 1966, the airport was renamed Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted, London's other airports. The name 'Heathrow' comes from the hamlet it was built on, which had existed since medieval times. The transition to 'Heathrow' was not without controversy, as authorities worried that foreign visitors and crews would struggle to pronounce the name. Another name considered was Swintonfield, after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton. Despite these concerns, the name Heathrow stuck, and it has become synonymous with London and UK aviation.
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Heathrow's early passenger terminals
Heathrow Airport, now the busiest airport in Europe, was founded as a small airfield in 1930. However, its origins stretch back even further. Before the Second World War, the site was home to a private airfield, which opened in 1929 and was operated by UK aircraft manufacturer Fairey Aviation. Known as the Great West Aerodrome, the airfield was situated near a hamlet known as 'Heath Row' on the outskirts of London.
Heathrow Airport's early passenger terminals were ex-military marquees, which formed a tented village along the Bath Road. The terminals were basic but comfortable, furnished with floral-patterned armchairs, settees, and small tables adorned with vases of fresh flowers. To embark, passengers would walk across wooden duckboards, protecting their shoes from the muddy airfield. The marquees had no heating, so they were bitterly cold in the winter, but in the summer, the walls would be removed to let the breeze blow through.
In the 1950s, Heathrow had six runways, arranged in three pairs at different angles in the shape of a hexagram, with a permanent passenger terminal in the middle and an older terminal along the north edge of the field. Two of its runways were always within 30 degrees of the wind direction. As the required length for runways increased, Heathrow eventually reduced its number of runways to two parallel runways running east-west. These are extended versions of the two east-west runways from the original hexagram.
By the time Terminal 1 opened in 1968, Heathrow was handling 14 million passengers annually. The original terminals were in the centre of the site, which became a constraint on expansion. At the time, it was assumed that passengers using the terminals would not need extensive parking, as air travel was only accessible to the wealthy, who would be chauffeur-driven.
In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated Terminal 1, and by 2006, Heathrow had handled around 1.4 billion passengers on over 14 million flights. In 2008, Terminal 5 opened, marking a new chapter for Heathrow. The brand new Terminal 2, also known as The Queen's Terminal, opened in 2014, with United Airlines as the first airline to move in.
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Heathrow's establishment in 1946
Heathrow Airport, now the busiest airport in Europe, was officially established in 1946 as London Airport. However, the site's history as an airfield goes back much further, to the early days of aviation.
In 1929, Fairey Aviation, a UK aircraft manufacturer, opened a private airfield near a hamlet called Heathrow, or Heath Row. This airfield, known as the Great West Aerodrome, was purchased by Fairey's founder, Richard Fairey, in 1930. During the 1930s, it was used for aircraft assembly and testing, and model aircraft club meetings. From 1935 to 1939, the Royal Aeronautical Society held its annual garden party fly-ins at the airfield, showcasing aircraft and their manufacturers.
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. In 1944, the ancient agricultural village of Heath Row was demolished to make way for further expansion. After the war ended, the RAF no longer needed the aerodrome, and it was handed over to the Air Ministry as London's new civil airport. The first aircraft to take off from Heathrow was a converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight, which flew to Buenos Aires.
In its early years, Heathrow's passenger terminals were ex-military marquees, equipped with floral-patterned armchairs, settees, and small tables with vases of fresh flowers. While these terminals were comfortable, they lacked heating, making them cold in winter. In summer, the marquee walls were removed to let in the breeze. To reach their aircraft, passengers walked over wooden duckboards to protect their footwear from the muddy airfield.
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Frequently asked questions
Heathrow Airport was originally called London Airport. The airport was renamed in 1966, 20 years after its establishment, to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted airports, which also serve London.
Before it was called London Airport, Heathrow was a private airfield called Great West Aerodrome, or sometimes Heathrow Aerodrome. The airfield was founded in 1929 or 1930 by British aero engineer and aircraft builder Richard Fairey.
Heathrow Airport was built on the site of a hamlet called Heathrow, or Heath Row. The settlement dated back to medieval times.
