12 Interesting Facts About Heathrow Airport That Will Surprise You
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You probably already know that London Heathrow Airport is Britain’s busiest and largest airport.
Located in the Metropolitan Green Belt, Heathrow (previously known as London Airport) is within the London Borough of Hillingdon, 23 kilometres west of central London. However, it has a lot of secrets, history, and the type of facts we find fascinating.
On your way to work or a vacation, you’re probably not aware of what goes on at the back end to keep it running smoothly. We will give you some fascinating facts about Heathrow Airport, which will be helpful next time you visit.
Heathrow stands as the largest airport in the UK
With its 1,227 hectares, six terminals, and two runways, Heathrow stands as the largest among the six international airports in London, serving 84 airlines. British Airways remains the most used airline at LHR, followed by Virgin Atlantic. The northern runway measures 3,902 metres, which is the length of 78 Olympic swimming pools.
In 2018, 80.1 million passengers passed through Heathrow, and at least 219,458 departed on a daily basis. In addition to passengers, the airport handles 1.7 million metric tonnes of cargo annually. A total of 76,000 people work within the airport’s boundaries. Around 24,000 spaces comprise the airport’s parking capacity across its car parks, including Terminal Parking, Park & Ride, Meet & Greet, and Pod Parking.
During the Airports Commission’s review of airport capacity in southeast England, the airport submitted three new expansion proposals. The airport plans to double its cargo capacity along with its passenger traffic capacity by adding a 3rd runway.
New York (JFK) remains the most popular destination
Among international travellers departing from Heathrow Airport, most are headed to New York, followed by Dubai, Dublin, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong. The Concorde flew daily between London Heathrow and New York (JFK) – a journey that took just three hours and thirty minutes.
There’s no Terminal 1
Although you may have seen signs for Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, the first terminal does not exist. After 47 years in operation, it closed on June 29, 2015, with a British Airways flight to Hanover, Germany.
As of 2014, all flights using Terminal 1 have been transferred to Heathrow Terminal 2. Future plans call for demolishing Terminal 1 and expanding Terminal 2.
It has a virtual control room
Could you imagine a scenario where Heathrow’s control tower went out of service? However, Heathrow has a solution – a virtual backup system is ready to take over and run up to 70% of the airport’s flights.
VCFs (Virtual Contingency Facilities) are windowless and away from the airfield, unlike the big tower overlooking the airport. Using the same technology and radio communication as the control tower, it works in thick fog when the controller cannot see the aircraft from the tower.
VIP suites in the posh terminal
The Royal Queen had a separate, special terminal at Heathrow Airport that few people may be aware of. Viewers cannot access it for security reasons, but it appears on the airport’s south side. Royalty, members of the House of Windsor, celebrities, and government officials are the only people who can use the Royal Suite. As for cost, it’s £1,500 per person.
The abandoned camo-green plane mystery
Perhaps you have noticed a large, camouflage green plane sitting on an airfield for years. It has no windows and appears to be deteriorating. Aircraft Rescue Firefighters use this piece of metal to train for handling burning aeroplanes – when the worst happens, they release the flames. It is always in use and an essential part of flight safety training.
A ghost train station underneath Terminal 5
There is a remote train station beneath Heathrow Terminal 5’s busy departure gates. It serves the Elizabeth Line and National Rail, with connections to the Heathrow Express. Currently, without a track, the station was built as part of Terminal 5 in 2008, allowing for future rail connections to Heathrow. 33 London buses fit into this unused space.
Hidden cargo port
The UK’s biggest port by value, Heathrow, handles more than 140,000 tonnes of Christmas cargo each year, equivalent to 66 London Eyes. Its cargo terminal is next to the southern runway, connecting to Terminals 2 and 3.
With snow ploughs and blowers, felt hats, walnuts, rose bushes, and Christmas tree exports all increasing in anticipation of Christmas, the airport plays a crucial role in delivering the ingredients for Christmas celebrations globally.
Moreover, parts for the International Space Station, the Terracotta Warriors, and expensive supercars worth £850,000 are also on the list. Before her flight in 2012, Lola the hippo was given a shower to ensure the best possible comfort.
Traveller’s choice of meal is breakfast
Travellers prefer breakfast over other meals despite the presence of several restaurants, cafes, and eating lounges. Perhaps this is why Heathrow is so busy in the mornings!
Approximately 7 million eggs are served at Heathrow Airport daily, along with 5.4 million bacon rashers, 1100 bottles of champagne, 7 million croissants, 27,000 cups of tea, and 40,000 cups of coffee.
Chanel N° 5 sold like water?
You probably didn’t know that the World Duty-Free at Heathrow sells one Chanel N° 5 bottle every five minutes.
The airport has featured in films & TV
As seen on both the big and small screens, the world-famous airport has become a legend. Multiple producers have chosen this airport as a perfect setting for films and documentaries due to its buzz and vibe.
Films such as Gambit, Die Another Day, Red Sparrow, Edge of Tomorrow, and Love Actually were filmed there. An ITV documentary titled Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport showcases the airport, and there is even a Twitter account dedicated to the airport, @HeathrowFilming.
2018 – the busiest year in record
There were 80.1 million passengers passing through the airport in 2018, which is the most ever recorded. That’s more than the UK’s population of 66 million that year.
A daily average of 219,458 passengers travelled that year, and 51% were arrivals and 49% were departures. With 261,909 passengers, July 29, 2018, was Heathrow Airport’s busiest day ever. And that’s almost three times Wembley Stadium’s capacity of 90,000.
Heathrow: Travel’s Heart & Traveller’s Choice
You’re well aware of the secrets and interesting facts about this popular airport now. Our comprehensive guide would be beneficial if you’re interested in knowing how to navigate London Heathrow. The airport has shops, lounges, and hotels in the vicinity plus there are lots of things to do near the airport. To maximise your comfort during your travel diaries, make sure you hire a quick airport taxi service. We hope you’ll have a safe and memorable journey through the busy hub while enjoying the perk of being there. Happy travelling!
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