Introduction of Heathrow International Airport
Heathrow international airport, one of the world's busiest and most renowned airports, is situated approximately 14 miles west of central London. Heathrow falls entirely within the boundaries of the London Borough of Hillingdon, and under the Twickenham postcode area, with the postcode TW6.
Heathrow international airport began in 1929 as a small airfield southeast of the hamlet of Heathrow from which the airport takes its name. Development of the whole Heathrow area as a much larger airport began in 1944 during World War II. The airport was opened on 25 March 1946 as London Airport and was renamed Heathrow Airport in 1966. The layout for the airport was designed by Sir Frederick Gibberd, who designed the original terminals and central area buildings, including the original control tower and the multi-faith Chapel of St George's.
Heathrow international airport is used by over 80 airlines flying to 185 destinations in 84 countries. The airport is the primary hub of British Airways and is a base for Virgin Atlantic. It has four passenger terminals (numbered 2 to 5) and a cargo terminal.
- Location: Situated in the London Borough of Hillingdon, Heathrow Airport is about 14 miles (23 km) west of Central London.
- Terminals: Heathrow has four operational passenger terminals: Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5. Each terminal serves different airlines and destinations.
- Passenger Services: The airport offers a wide range of passenger services, including various shops, restaurants, lounges, currency exchange, VAT refunds, luggage services, and more.
- Transportation: Heathrow has excellent transportation links, including the Heathrow Express train service, the London Underground (Piccadilly Line), buses, taxis, and private hire services.
- Destinations: Heathrow serves a vast number of destinations worldwide, connecting passengers to various international and domestic locations through numerous airlines.
- Airlines: It's a hub for several major airlines and hosts flights operated by numerous carriers, serving both short-haul and long-haul destinations.
- Cargo Operations: In addition to passenger services, Heathrow is a major hub for cargo transportation, handling a significant volume of goods and freight.
- Expansion and Future Plans: The airport has had ongoing discussions and plans for expansion and infrastructure development, aiming to increase capacity and efficiency in handling passengers and aircraft.
- COVID-19 Impact: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected air travel, leading to changes in Heathrow's operations and the implementation of safety measures and protocols to ensure passenger and staff safety.
