Lois Larson
Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport, was originally called London Airport when it opened in 1946. The airport was renamed Heathrow Airport in September 1966 to avoid confusion with other airports serving London, Gatwick and Stansted. The name Heathrow is derived from the hamlet the airport was built on.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous name | London Airport |
| New name | Heathrow Airport |
| Year of renaming | 1966 |
| Month of renaming | September |
| Reason for renaming | To avoid confusion with other airports serving London, Gatwick and Stansted |
| Previous name's year of adoption | 1946 |
| Airport's location | 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London |
| Airport's size | 4.74 square miles (12.3 square kilometres) |
| Airport's original purpose | Long-distance military aircraft bound for the Far East |
| Airport's opening year | 1946 |
| Airport's opening date | 25 March 1946 |
| Airport's opening date for civilian use | 31 May 1946 |
| Airport's original owner | UK Government |
| Airport's current owner | Heathrow Airport Holdings |
| Airport's original designer | Sir Frederick Gibberd |
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What You'll Learn
London Airport was officially renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966
The name Heathrow is derived from the hamlet the airport was built on. The site of the centuries-old hamlet of Heath Row was located near the current location of Terminal 3. The lane that ran through the hamlet, Heathrow Road, divided the hamlet of Harmondsworth from the 17th and 18th-century highwaymen's lair of Hounslow Heath.
Before becoming Heathrow Airport, the airport nearly carried the name 'Swintonfield', after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton. However, the name Heathrow was chosen despite concerns that foreign visitors and crews would have trouble pronouncing it.
London Airport was the main airport serving London, the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom, for two decades. The airport was founded as a small airfield in 1930 but was expanded into a much larger airport after World War II. The airport's development began in 1944 during World War II, and it was intended for long-distance military aircraft bound for the Far East.
London Airport underwent significant expansion work in the years following its opening, including the addition of new terminals and runways. By the early 1950s, the airport had six runways, and further expansion plans were underway. Today, Heathrow Airport remains a central force in global aviation, ranking high in passenger volume.
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The airport was nearly named 'Swintonfield'
Heathrow Airport, located 14 miles (23 kilometres) west of Central London, is the primary and largest international airport serving London. It is also the busiest airport in Europe and the fourth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. The airport was founded as a small airfield in 1930, but its origins stretch back even further. Before the Second World War, Heathrow's site was home to a private airfield.
The airport was known as London Airport until 1966 when it was renamed Heathrow Airport. However, there was a possibility that the airport would be named Swintonfield, after the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton. The authorities at the time were concerned that foreign visitors and crews would struggle to pronounce "Heathrow". Despite these worries, the name Heathrow stuck, and the airport has become synonymous with London.
The transition to Heathrow as the airport's name wasn't the only option on the table. The name Heathrow was chosen to avoid confusion with the other two airports that serve London, Gatwick and Stansted. As Gatwick rose to prominence, it became clear that "London Airport" needed a less generic name to distinguish itself from its counterpart in the south.
Over the years, Heathrow Airport has undergone significant expansion and development. It has four passenger terminals (Terminals 2 to 5) and one cargo terminal. Heathrow's busiest year on record was in 2019, with 80.9 million passengers travelling through the airport. The airport is a major hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and has become a central force in global aviation.
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Heathrow Airport was named after the hamlet it was built on
Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport, was originally called London Airport when it opened in 1946. However, in the last week of September 1966, it was renamed Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with the other two airports serving London at the time: Gatwick and Stansted.
The name Heathrow dates back to at least 1410, when the first known mention of a semi-rural lane called Heathrow (spelled "La Hetherewe") was made. This lane divided the hamlet of Harmondsworth from the highwaymen's lair of Hounslow Heath. The hamlet of Heathrow included a farm, a hall, and a house, all bearing the name "Heathrow."
In the early years of what is now Heathrow Airport, the site was known as the Great West Aerodrome, sometimes referred to as the Heathrow Aerodrome. The airport has undergone significant expansion over the years, with the hamlet of Heathrow gradually making way for runways and terminals. Today, Heathrow Airport is a major international aviation hub, serving as a critical gateway to London and the rest of the world.
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The name change was to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted airports
Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest airport, was originally called London Airport when it opened in 1946. The name was changed in 1966 to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted airports, which also serve London.
London Airport was established as a civil airport after World War II. It was developed from a small airfield called Great West Aerodrome, which was founded in 1930. The site was also home to a private airfield before the war. The airport was originally named after the hamlet of Heathrow, which was largely made up of farms, market gardens, and orchards. The name Heathrow was chosen over other options, including Swintonfield, which was proposed to honour the first Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Swinton.
As air travel became more accessible after World War II, London needed to expand its aviation capacity. This led to the reopening of Gatwick Airport in 1958, which soon became a prominent airport. With the rise of Gatwick, it became clear that London Airport needed a less generic name to distinguish it from other airports serving London, such as Gatwick and Stansted.
The new name, Heathrow, was chosen to reflect the history of the area, as it was located near the hamlet of Heathrow and the Heathrow Road. The name change took effect in September 1966, and the airport has since been officially known as Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Airport has grown to become one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a central hub for global aviation and handling a high volume of passenger traffic.
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London Airport was originally a small airfield in 1929/1930
Heathrow Airport, now one of the busiest airports in the world, began in 1929 as a small airfield called the Great West Aerodrome. The land, which was bought by British aero engineer and aircraft builder Richard Fairey, consisted of farms, market gardens, and orchards. It was located southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow, from which the airport takes its name.
In 1944, during World War II, the UK government began developing the site as a military airfield for long-distance aircraft bound for the Far East. By the time the airfield's runways were usable, World War II had ended, and the site was instead developed as a civil airport. The airport was opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport.
In its early years, the airport's terminals were ex-military marquees forming a tented village along the Bath Road. These marquees were equipped with floral-patterned armchairs, settees, and small tables with vases of fresh flowers. To reach the aircraft, passengers walked over wooden duckboards to protect their footwear from the muddy airfield.
As air travel became more accessible to the everyday person after World War II, London needed to expand its aviation capacities. The airport underwent significant expansion work, including the addition of three new terminals by 1969.
In the last week of September 1966, the airport was renamed Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with the other two airports serving London: Gatwick and Stansted. The name Heathrow is said to come from the centuries-old hamlet of Heath Row, which was demolished during the construction of the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
London Airport was renamed Heathrow Airport in September 1966.
The airport was renamed to avoid confusion with the other airports serving London, Gatwick and Stansted.
Before it was called London Airport, Heathrow Airport was known as Great West Aerodrome, or Heathrow Aerodrome.
