Heathrow Airport History

Heathrow Airport, the largest airport in United Kingdom and the world’s busiest international airport carries over 68 million passengers & transfers 1.3 million tonnes of cargo every year. There have been many instances which would completely describe the History of Heathrow Airport.

Heathrow got its existence in 1946 as an army surplus tent small grass airfield. This Aerodrome was first privately owned by the Fairey Aviation Company. Also, it was largely used for the purpose of test flying with various commercial flights.

How Heathrow got into Existence?

Heathrow history has never been a one man show. There were many people involved who made Heathrow reach the level of being called as the world’s busiest airport. This airport came into existence a few decades ago only.

• In 1943, the control was handed over to the Air Ministry & decided to develop Heathrow as a Royal Air Force transfer station.
• In 1944, it was requisitioned by the Air Ministry which lead to the development of Heathrow as a major transport base for the Royal Air Force. This also led to the construction of new runways which started on the land which was acquired from the vicar of Harmondsworth.
• On 1 January 1946, Heathrow made an opening by allowing its first flight that flew from Buenos Aires crossing Lisbon mainly for the purpose of refuelling.
• As the time passed, in 1947, work on three runways was completed. Another new permanent building came up in the central area in the early 1950s, replacing the tent. Queen Elizabeth II placed the first slab of the first modern runway of Heathrow Airport in 1953.
• Again in 1955 with an increase in number of passengers, Queen Elizabeth inaugurated the first permanent terminal building earlier known as Europa Building and now called as Terminal 2.
• Following Terminal 2, the new Oceanic terminal which handles long haul carriers was Terminal 3. It performed the same functions of Terminal 2, which was further followed by the opening of Terminal 1 in 1968.
• 1970 came up with the expansion of Terminal 3 with an addition of arrival building. Moving walkways was an added facility to the Heathrow Airport.
• In 1980’s, the growth in the number of passengers also rose up to 30 million per year which developed a thought of increased terminal space. This congestion in the number of passengers led to the birth of new Terminal called as Terminal 4 in 1986. It is on the southern side of the airport, which is at a 10-20 minute transfer from Central Heathrow Airport.
• With the span of time in 1987, UK government decided to privatise the BAA (British Airports Authority), who is the main controller of Heathrow Airport and six other Airports in UK.
• At last on 23^rd June, 1998 Heathrow Express began its operation with a direct rail service to London’s Paddington station passing through a specially constructed rail line between the Heathrow Airport and the Great Western main line.

Heathrow Airport in present

London Heathrow Airport history was past but today, Heathrow Airport has a superb rail and road links to London and to other parts of the country as well. Heathrow Airport History is never ending as Heathrow is growing every year with good amount of space and increase in number of passengers every year.

Terminal 2 has been closed now due to some maintenance work and new Terminal will be able to provide a great floor space between the existing Terminal and Queen’s building. This construction is expected to finish in 2013 with great solar gathering panels on the roof reducing the dependency on different energy suppliers.