Heathrow Airport Information

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Heathrow International Airport

History :

What is now the world's busiest international airport, was originally a small grass airfield with an army surplus tent for a terminal, in 1946. It was privately owned by the Great Western Aerodrome and functioned for test flying with commercial flights.

Like many airports during the wartime, the Air Ministry developed the airfield as a major transport base for the RAF. But before the work could be completed the war ended and soon sights were set for Heathrow to join civil aviation. A partly-built location at Heathrow became the new site for a much needed large airport in London. The tented terminal was quickly replaced when the Ministry of Civil Aviation took it over in 1946.

In 1955, a new terminal and tunnel to Heathrow's central area was opened by HRH The Queen, to cope with the growing passenger demand. Over the following years, numerous terminals were developed to handle many long-haul carriers.

Passengers :

The world's busiest international airport carries 67 million passengers year.

Airlines :

Aer Lingus
Asiana Airlines
Aeroflot
Air Astana
Air France
Air Seychelles
Air Tansat
Alitalia
Austrian Airlines
Avianca
Azerbaijan Airlines
Air Canada
Air China
Air India
Air Jamaica
Air Mauritius
Air New Zealand
All Nippon Airways
Air Malta
American Airlines
bmi
British Airways
Bellview Airlines
Brussels Airlines
Biman Bangladesh
Cyprus Airways
China Eastern Airlines
Clickair
Croatia Airlines
Czech Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Cyprus Turkish Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Airlines
El Al
Egypt Air
Emirates
Ethiopian Airlines
Etihad Airways
EVA Air
Finnair
Gulf air
Hemus Air
Iran Air
Iberia
Icelandair
Jat Airways
Japan Air lines
Jet Airways
Korean Air
Kuwait Airways
Kenya Airways
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Lufthansa
Luxair
Libyan Airways
Malaysia Airlines
Middle East Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Pakistan International Airlines
Qatar Airways
Qantas
Royal Brunei Airlines
Royal Jordanian
Rossiva
Royal Air Maroc
South African Airways
Sun D'Or
Sudan Airways
Swiss International Air Lines
Syrian Arab Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Scandinavian Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Sri Lankan Airlines
TAP Portugal
Tarom
Tunisair
Thai Airways International
Turkish Airlines
Turkmenistran Airlines
TAM Linhas Aereas
Ukraine International Airlines
Uzbekistan Airways
United Airlines
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Yemenia

Getting there :

Train - Heathrow Airport is very well served by tube, Heathrow Express and the Heathrow Connect. The Heathrow Express leaves Paddington every 15 minutes. Heathrow Connect runs from Paddigton, stopping at Ealing Broadway, WestEaling, Hanwell, Southall and Hayes & Harlington, every 30 minutes. London Underground's Piccadilly line provides you with a quick, cost-effective route to the airport from the capital.

Bus - Heathrow Airport is served by an extensive network of local buses which operate from the central bus station. Some services also stop at Terminal 4. National Express also run coaches from Central London to the airport.

Car - Before setting out for the airport make sure you check which terminal you are leaving from. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are located next to each other at the centre of Heathrow, whilst Terminal 4 is located to the south of the airport and has a separate entrance. Heathrow is situated close to two motorways - the M4 and the M25.

Facilities :

Lounges, internet access, cash machines, information desk, car hire, currency exchange, bars, restaurants and shopping.

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