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 Heathrow
Airport Information
London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow (IATA: LHR, ICAO: EGLL),
in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the largest airport
in the United Kingdom. It is the fourth busiest airport in the
world (in 2010, due to reduced traffic blamed on the Eyjafjallajökull
volcano) in terms of total passenger traffic and it handles
more international passengers than any other airport in the
world. It is also the busiest airport in the European Union
in terms of passenger traffic and the second busiest in terms
of traffic movements, second to Paris CDG airport in Paris,
France.
The airport is owned and operated by BAA, who also own and
operate five other UK airports. BAA is owned by ADI Limited,
an international consortium led by the Spanish Ferrovial Group,
which also includes Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
and GIC Special Investments. Heathrow is a primary hub
for BMI, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Heathrow is 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) west of Central
London, and has two parallel main runways spanning east-to-west
and four operational terminals. The site covers 12.14 square
kilometres (4.69 sq mi). Terminal 5 was officially opened
by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 March 2008 and opened to passengers
on 27 March 2008. Construction of a new Terminal 2 complex
to replace the terminal building and adjacent Queen's Building
began in 2009; the first phase is expected to open in 2014.
Terminals 3 and 4 underwent major refurbishments that began
in 2007 and were completed in 2009. In November 2007 a consultation
process began for the building of a new third runway and a
sixth terminal and it was controversially approved on 15
January 2009 by UK Government ministers. The project was
then cancelled on 12 May 2010 by the Cameron Government.[9]
Heathrow Airport has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number
P527) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers
or for flying instruction.
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