Heathrow Airport Information

Heathrow Airport is the UK’s largest and most important airport. The Airport was s established shortly after the end of the 2nd World War on the site of a former RAF base. The Airport has grown from these humble beginnings to become the busiest airport in terms of international passengers, in the world. In 2008 it is estimated that London Heathrow will have carried over 65 million passengers.

The site is centred on 2 main runways and 5 passenger terminals. Terminals 1, 2 and 3 located between the runways, at the eastern end of the site. Terminal 4 which opened 20 years ago is located to the south of the existing runways. In 2008 at the western end of the airport, Terminal 5 was located. This multi billion pound building was initially beset by teething operating problems, but is now performing as it was designed.

Terminal 5 is the home of British Airways, the first time the airline will have its operations consolidated into one terminal building. British Airways are Heathrow’s largest resident airline, accounting for over 30 million passengers. BA has an extensive flight network, flying to destinations in the UK, Europe, USA, Africa, The Middle East, The Far East, and Australia.

London Heathrow Airport is also the principle base to 2 other airlines:
Virgin Atlantic Airways are a Long Haul flight operator that has built a significant flight network to Cities across the world. Virgin flights to the US include New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington.

BMI formerly known as British Midland is also home at London’s biggest airport. BMI are primarily a short and medium haul airline, with an extensive UK, European and Middle East network of routes.
The UK internal network includes internal flights to Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Durham Tees Valley and Aberdeen. BMI are a member of the Star Alliance, a global network of airlines which allows easy booking of members flights from within the BMI website. So if you looking for a flight to Germany you cab book a Lufthansa flight through the British Midland website. Planning on a trip to Canada then you take advantage of Air Canada via BMI. BMI currently hold about 10% of all takeoff slots from Heathrow. See the BMI timetable for details.

A third runway has just been approved by the Government which should see growth at the airport take the number of passengers using the airport towards 90 million a year. The expansion will incorporate a new 6th terminal to cater for passengers using the new 3rd runway.

Heathrow is located just to the west of London, and its location is great for travellers form all over the South East of England including from towns as far away as Milton Keynes