History of Heathrow Airport in Timeline

Heathrow Airport, also known as London Heathrow Airport, is the primary and largest international airport serving London, the capital of the United Kingdom. It is the largest of the six international airports in the London airport system.

1929: Beginnings as Great West Aerodrome

In 1929, Heathrow Airport began as a small airfield called Great West Aerodrome.

1930: Foundation as Small Airfield

In 1930, Heathrow was founded as a small airfield.

1944: Airport Development Begins

In 1944, development began to transform Heathrow into a larger airport during World War II.

March 1946: Airport Opens as London Airport

On 25 March 1946, the airport was opened as London Airport.

1955: Original Terminal 2 Opened

In 1955, the original Terminal 2 opened as the Europa Building.

November 1961: Terminal 3 Opened

On 13 November 1961, Terminal 3 opened as the Oceanic Terminal to handle flight departures for long-haul routes for foreign carriers to the United States and Asia.

September 1966: Airport Renamed Heathrow Airport

In the last week of September 1966, London Airport was renamed Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with other London airports.

1966: Airport Renamed

In 1966, London Airport was renamed Heathrow Airport to avoid confusion with Gatwick and Stansted.

1968: Terminal Renamed

In 1968, the Oceanic Terminal was renamed Terminal 3.

1968: Opening of Terminal 1

Terminal 1 opened in 1968 and served as the base for British Airways' domestic and European network, as well as some long-haul routes, before Terminal 5 was opened.

April 1969: Inauguration of Terminal 1

In April 1969, Terminal 1 was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II.

1970: Terminal 3 Expansion

In 1970, Terminal 3 was expanded with the addition of an arrivals building and the UK's first moving walkways.

1974: Cancellation of the Maplin Project

In 1974, the Maplin project was cancelled.

1981: Airports Inquiries of 1981

Airports Inquiries of 1981 considered further expansion at Heathrow.

1985: Airports Policy White Paper of 1985

The 1985 Airports Policy White Paper considered further expansion at Heathrow.

1986: Opening of Terminal 4

In 1986, Terminal 4, featuring 22 gates, was opened south of the southern runway, adjacent to the cargo terminal.

1991: Pan Am and TWA Sell Rights

In 1991, Pan Am and TWA sold their rights to United Airlines and American Airlines respectively, while Virgin Atlantic was added to the list of airlines allowed to operate on these routes.

1995: Public Inquiry into Terminal 5

From 1995-1999, a four-year-long public inquiry was held regarding the approval of Terminal 5.

June 1998: Completion of Waterside

In June 1998, Waterside, the new British Airways head office in Harmondsworth, was completed, relocating from Speedbird House within Heathrow Airport.

April 2003: Landing Charge Increase

Until 1 April 2003, the annual increase in landing charge per passenger was capped at inflation minus 3%.

2003: Future of Air Transport White Paper

In 2003, the Future of Air Transport White Paper proposed a third runway at Heathrow, as well as a second runway at Stansted Airport.

2006: Pier 6 Completed

In 2006, the new £105 million Pier 6 was completed to accommodate the Airbus A380 superjumbo.

April 2007: New "Open Skies" Agreement Signed

On 30 April 2007, a new "open skies" agreement was signed by the United States and the European Union.

November 2007: Public Consultation on Third Runway

In November 2007, there was a public consultation regarding the potential construction of a third runway.

2007: Criticism for Overcrowding

In 2007, Heathrow was criticised for overcrowding and delays and voted the world's least favourite airport in a TripAdvisor survey.

2007: Landing Fee per Passenger

In 2007, the landing fee had increased to £9.28 per passenger.

2007: Terminal 3 Forecourt Redevelopment

In 2007, the redevelopment of Terminal 3's forecourt was completed, adding a new four-lane drop-off area and a large pedestrianized plaza with a canopy. This project aimed to improve passenger experience, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance security. Virgin Atlantic received its dedicated check-in area, 'Zone A', featuring a large sculpture and atrium, as part of the 2007 project.

March 2008: Terminal Moves Implemented

Following the opening of Terminal 5 in March 2008, a complex program of terminal moves was implemented to group airlines by alliance.

March 2008: Opening of Terminal 5

In March 2008, Terminal 5 was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 14th and then opened to the public on March 27th, exclusively for British Airways and Iberia. The opening experienced disruptions due to IT system problems and insufficient staff training.

March 2008: CAA Announces Landing Charge Increase

In March 2008, the CAA announced that the charge would be allowed to increase by 23.5% to £12.80 from 1 April 2008 and by inflation plus 7.5% for each of the following four years.

March 2008: "Open Skies" Agreement Takes Effect

On 30 March 2008, the "open skies" agreement came into effect, allowing more US airlines to operate services to Heathrow.

April 2008: Landing Charge Increase

From 1 April 2008 the charge increased by 23.5% to £12.80.

2008: Emirates A380 Model Installation

Since 2008, a model of an Emirates Airbus A380 has occupied the site of Heathrow's unofficial "gate guardian".

2008: Terminal 5 Opening

The opening of Terminal 5 in 2008 relieved some pressure on terminal facilities.

January 2009: Government Support for Heathrow Expansion

In January 2009, the British government announced its support for the expansion of Heathrow by building a third runway and a sixth terminal building.

2009: Waterloo Link Proposed

In 2009 a proposal to create a southern link with London Waterloo via the Waterloo-Reading line was made.

2009: Proposal for Concourse D

In 2009, a proposal for Concourse D, similar in size to Concourse C, was featured in Heathrow's Capital Investment Plan, potentially adding 16 more stands.

2010: Political Opposition to Third Runway

Before the 2010 general election, the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties announced their opposition to constructing a third runway or further expanding Heathrow's operating capacity.

2010: Building Demolished

In 2010, the original Terminal 2, the Europa Building, and the Queens Building were demolished.

June 2011: Terminal 5 Fully Operational

On June 1, 2011, Terminal 5 became fully operational, featuring Concourse A for British Airways' narrowbody fleet and Concourses B and C for widebody aircraft, including dedicated stands for the Airbus A380.

2011: Terminal 3 Passenger and Flight Statistics in 2011

In 2011, Terminal 3 handled 19.8 million passengers on 104,100 flights.

2011: Waterloo Link Abandoned

In 2011, the proposal to create a southern link with London Waterloo was abandoned due to lack of funding.

2011: Heathrow Pod Operational

In the spring of 2011, the Heathrow Pod, a personal rapid transit system connecting a long-stay car park to Terminal 5, became operational.

March 2012: Iberia Moves Operations to Terminal 5

Between March 25, 2012, Iberia's flight operations were moved to Terminal 5 following the merger with British Airways.

September 2012: Airports Commission Established

In September 2012, the British government established the Airports Commission to examine options for increasing airport capacity in the UK.

December 2012: Noise-Relief Zones Trial Begins

In December 2012, a trial of "noise-relief zones" began, concentrating flight paths into defined areas.

2012: British Airways Takes Over BMI Destinations

In 2012, British Airways took over British Midland International's (BMI) short-haul and medium-haul destinations from Terminal 1 following the acquisition of BMI by British Airways' owner, International Airlines Group.

2012: GIC Private Limited Ownership

In 2012, GIC Private Limited was one of Heathrow's principal owners.

2012: Record Passenger Numbers

In 2012, the number of passengers using the airport reached a record 70 million.

March 2013: Noise-Relief Zones Trial Ends

In March 2013, the trial of "noise-relief zones" concluded, with findings that it should not be taken forward in its current form due to increased noise for some residents.

April 2013: CAA Proposes Landing Fee Calculation

In April 2013, the CAA announced a proposal for Heathrow to charge fees calculated by inflation minus 1.3%, continuing until 2019.

July 2013: Airport Expansion Proposals Submitted

In July 2013, Heathrow Airport submitted three new proposals for expansion to the Airports Commission for review.

November 2013: New Terminal 2 Complex Completed

In November 2013, the main complex for the new Terminal 2 was completed.

December 2013: Airports Commission Interim Report

In December 2013, the Airports Commission released its interim report, shortlisting options for airport expansion, including a third runway at Heathrow.

2013: Terminal 3 Area and Gates in 2013

As of 2013, Terminal 3 had an area of 98,962 square meters with 28 gates.

2013: Heathrow Fourth Busiest European Airport by Cargo Traffic

Heathrow was the fourth busiest European airport by cargo traffic in 2013, trailing Frankfurt Airport, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

June 2014: Opening of Phase 1 of New Terminal 2

Following the opening of Phase 1 of the new Terminal 2 in June 2014, Star Alliance member airlines (except Air India) and other airlines began relocating to Terminal 2.

June 2014: Terminal 2 Opened

In June 2014, Terminal 2 opened.

June 2014: Airlines Move to Terminal 2

On 4 June 2014, United became the first airline to move into Terminal 2 from Terminals 1 and 4 followed by All Nippon Airways, Air Canada and Air China from Terminal 3.

October 2014: Airlines Move to Terminal 2

On 22 October 2014, Air New Zealand, Asiana Airlines, Croatia Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, South African Airways, and TAP Air Portugal moved into Terminal 2.

October 2014: Relocation to Terminal 2 Completed

On 22 October 2014, the phased process to relocate airlines was completed.

2014: Terminal 5 Voted World's Best Airport Terminal

In 2014, Terminal 5 was voted Skytrax World's Best Airport Terminal in the Annual World Airport Awards.

March 2015: Heathrow Hub Dropped from HS2 Plans

In March 2015, the plan to link Heathrow to the planned High Speed 2 railway line was dropped from the HS2 plans.

March 2015: Icelandair Moved to Terminal 2

On March 25, 2015, Icelandair moved to Terminal 2.

May 2015: LATAM Brasil Moved to Terminal 3

On May 27, 2015, LATAM Brasil moved to Terminal 3.

June 2015: Airlines Left Terminal 1

By 30 June 2015, all airlines had left Terminal 1 in preparation for its demolition and the construction of Phase 2 of Terminal 2.

June 2015: Terminal 1 Closed

Terminal 1 closed at the end of June 2015, and the site is being used to extend Terminal 2.

July 2015: Commission Backs Third Runway

In July 2015, the Airports Commission backed a third runway at Heathrow.

2015: Heathrow as Busiest Airport in Europe

In 2015, Heathrow was the busiest airport in Europe in total passenger traffic, surpassing Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport.

October 2016: Government Approves Third Runway

In October 2016, the government approved a third runway at Heathrow.

2016: Noise Complaints

In the summer of 2016, Heathrow received more than 25,000 noise complaints in just three months.

2017: "Fly Quiet & Green" Introduced

In 2017, Heathrow introduced "Fly Quiet & Green", a quarterly league table for airlines based on environmental benchmarks.

2017: Air India Moved to Terminal 2

In early 2017, Air India moved to Terminal 2.

June 2018: Parliament Votes in Favour of Third Runway

In June 2018, the UK Cabinet approved the third runway, and on June 25, 2018, the House of Commons voted in favor of it.

2018: Department for Transport Invites Proposals

In 2018, the Department for Transport began to invite proposals for privately funded rail links to Heathrow Airport.

2019: Passenger Numbers Comparison to 2020

Compared to 2019, in 2020 passenger numbers decreased 58 million due to COVID-19 restrictions.

2019: Heathrow Named Best-Connected Airport

In 2019, Heathrow Airport was recognized as the best-connected airport globally, according to the OAG's Megahubs Index.

2019: Record Passenger Traffic

In 2019, Heathrow recorded its busiest year ever, with 80.9 million passengers.

2019: CAA Proposes Landing Fee Calculation

In April 2013, the CAA announced a proposal for Heathrow to charge fees calculated by inflation minus 1.3%, continuing until 2019.

February 2020: Court of Appeal Rules Third Runway Illegal

In February 2020, the Court of Appeal ruled that the plans for a third runway were illegal due to climate agreement commitments.

April 2020: Transition to Single-Runway Operations and Terminal Closures

In April 2020, Heathrow transitioned to single-runway operations and temporarily closed Terminals 3 and 4 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2020: American Airlines Moves to Terminal 5

On July 7, 2020, American Airlines moved to Terminal 5 to ease connections to British Airways flights during the pandemic.

August 2020: Dual Runway Operations Restored

In August 2020, Heathrow restored dual runway operations.

November 2020: US-UK Air Transport Agreement Signed

In November 2020, the US and UK signed a new US-UK Air Transport Agreement incorporating the essential elements of Open Skies.

November 2020: Return to Single-Runway Operations

On November 9, 2020, Heathrow returned to single-runway operations.

December 2020: Supreme Court Overturns Ruling

In December 2020, the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal's ruling on the third runway.

December 2020: Ban on Third Runway Lifted

On 16 December 2020, the UK Supreme Court lifted the ban on the third runway expansion, allowing construction plans to proceed.

December 2020: Terminal 4 Shut Until End of 2021

On December 11, 2020, Heathrow announced that Terminal 4 would be shut until the end of 2021.

2020: Sharp Drop in Passenger Numbers

In 2020, Heathrow experienced a sharp decline of over 72% in passenger numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: "Fly Quiet & Green" Suspended

In 2020, the "Fly Quiet & Green" program was suspended due to the Covid pandemic.

March 2021: US-UK Air Transport Agreement Takes Effect

In March 2021, the US-UK Air Transport Agreement came into effect.

July 2021: Terminal 3 Reopened

On July 15, 2021, Terminal 3 was reopened for use by Virgin Atlantic and Delta.

2021: Passenger Statistics

In 2021, Heathrow served 19.4 million passengers, including 17 million international and 2.4 million domestic.

June 2022: Terminal 4 Reopened to Normal Operations

On June 14, 2022, Terminal 4 was reopened to normal operations.

July 2022: Iberia Moves Flight Operations Back to Terminal 3

On July 12, 2022, Iberia's flight operations were moved back to Terminal 3.

November 2022: China Southern Airlines Relocated to Terminal 4

In November 2022, China Southern Airlines, which had been using Terminal 5 due to the pandemic, relocated to Terminal 4.

November 2022: Heathrow Loses Busiest Airport in Europe Title

In November 2022, Heathrow lost its title of busiest airport in Europe after falling to the second spot.

December 2022: Heathrow's International Ranking by Passenger Traffic

For the 12 months ending December 2022, Heathrow was the eighth busiest airport internationally when ranked by passenger traffic.

December 2022: Route H30 Introduced by Diamond Buses

On 1 December 2022, route H30, providing direct transfer between Terminals 4 and 5, was introduced by Diamond Buses.

2022: Cargo Statistics

In 2022, Heathrow handled 1.4 million tonnes of cargo, with the top cargo export destinations including the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

March 2023: Heathrow Regained Busiest Airport in Europe Title

In March 2023, Heathrow became the busiest airport in Europe again after falling to the second spot in November 2022.

June 2023: Iberia Moved to Terminal 5

On June 1, 2023, Iberia moved to Terminal 5.

October 2024: "Fly Quieter & Greener" Reinstated

In October 2024, Heathrow reinstated the "Fly Quiet & Green" programme, rebadged as "Fly Quieter & Greener", with two more environmental benchmarks added.

November 2024: CEO Seeks Final Decision

In November 2024, the airport's CEO indicated that he would seek a "final" decision from the government by the end of 2025.

November 2024: Testing AI System for Air Traffic Control

On 29 November 2024, it was reported that Heathrow Airport is testing an artificial intelligence (AI) system called Amy to assist air controllers, using radar and video data to track aircraft.

2024: Scandinavian Airlines Still Uses Terminal 2

Although Scandinavian Airlines is now part of the SkyTeam alliance as of 1 September, 2024, it still uses Terminal 2.

2024: Busiest Airport in Europe

In 2024, Heathrow was the busiest airport in Europe, the fourth-busiest in the world by passenger traffic, and the second-busiest by international passenger traffic. It also had the most international connections globally in 2024.

2025: Terminal Assignments as of 2025

As of 2025, Heathrow's four passenger terminals are assigned as follows.

2025: Third Runway Details Published

On February 12th 2025 - after receiving the government's backing for a third runway, Heathrow published a statement confirming the plans, and suggesting that full details will be published in Summer 2025.