- On 1st January 1946, ownership of Heathrow was transferred to the Ministry of Civil Aviation
- Newly named ‘London Airport’ officially opened for civilian use on 31 May 1946
- Today Heathrow manages 73 million passengers experiencing world-class facilities in Terminal 2 and Terminal 5
- In 2015 Heathrow was voted best airport in the world by the Independent Travel Awards ; and Terminal 5 was voted the world’s best terminal in the Skytrax World Airport Awards for the fourth time running
- Heathrow will celebrate its official birthday on 31 May 2016
LONDON, 2016-1-5 — /Travel PR News/ — Today marks 70 years since Heathrow officially became a commercial airport. Over the course of 2016, Heathrow will be celebrating a number of key moments with colleagues, passengers and the local community to mark this significant anniversary. 31st May is the official date of Heathrow’s birthday – marking 70 years since the then newly named London Airport officially opened for civilian aviation #heathrow70.
Heathrow was originally built for military purposes during the Second World War and was handed over by the Air Ministry to the Minister of Civil Aviation (pictured) on 1st January 1946. The first commercial flight to depart that day was a British South American Airlines Lancastrian ‘Star Light’ which flew to Buenos Aires.
Since its opening, the UK’s only hub airport has grown significantly to handle over 73 million passengers annually and is now one of the best major airports in the world.
In 1946 passenger terminals were made from ex‑military marquees that formed a ‘tented village’ along the Bath Road. Each was equipped with floral-patterned armchairs, settees and small tables containing vases of fresh flowers. To reach aircraft parked on the apron, passengers walked over wooden duckboards to protect their footwear from the muddy airfield.
By the close of Heathrow’s first operational year in 1946, 63,000 passengers had travelled through London’s new airport. By 1951 this had risen to 796,000 and British architect Frederick Gibberd was appointed to design permanent buildings for the airport.
Long standing employee and local resident Keith Haywood, 87, has worked at the airport for over 70 years and pushed one of the first flights back aged 17. He said “I feel very privileged to have seen Heathrow develop and grow from its first day in 1946.”
Since 2003, Heathrow has invested £12 billion in transforming Heathrow. As a result, over 60% of Heathrow passengers now experience modern, world class facilities in Terminal 5 and Terminal 2. This was recognised in 2015 by being voted best airport in the world by the Independent Travel Awards, ‘Best Airport in Western Europe’ by the Skytrax World Airport Awards and by passengers voted Terminal 5 as the ‘world’s best terminal’ for the fourth year in a row. Terminal 2, Heathrow’s newest terminal, is the only airport terminal in the world to be awarded a BREEAM certification for its sustainable design and energy management.
In June 2015, Terminal 1 closed to make way for newer and improved facilities. Eventually an extension of the new Terminal 2 will take its place. If the Government supports a third runway at Heathrow in the summer then Terminal 2 will be extended and a new terminal will be built adjacent to Terminal 5, providing enough capacity to connect Britain to the world for the 21st century.
Heathrow CEO John Holland Kaye said: “This is a significant milestone which marks the incredible transformation of Heathrow.”
“Heathrow has come a long way from being a military airfield to a national asset which is now a globally recognised brand. I am very proud to be a part of ‘Team Heathrow’ and the 75,000 colleagues helping to make every passenger’s journey better. I’m looking forward to celebrating the history of this amazing airport this year but I’m also looking forward to the next 70 years as Heathrow aims to be the best connected and most environmentally responsible airport in the world.
A brief History of Heathrow
- 1944: Construction of London Airport’s runways begins
- 1946: London Airport officially opens as a commercial airport
- 1955: Her Majesty the Queen opens the Central Terminal Area and Control Tower
- 1957: The first non-stop flight to California sets a new record for distance and time
- 1964: The Beatles are mobbed at London Airport
- 1966: The British Airports Authority is created. London Airport is renamed ‘Heathrow’
- 1969: Terminal 1 is opened and existing buildings renamed Terminals 2 and 3
- 1976: Concorde makes its first passenger flight
- 1977: The London Underground link is opened
- 1986: His Royal Highness Prince Charles and Princess Diana inaugurate Terminal 4
- 1987: The British Airports Authority is privatised as BAA plc
- 1997: The Terminal 5 public planning inquiry ends – the longest in UK history
- 1998: The Heathrow Express rail service is launched
- 2003: Three Concordes make their final touchdown at Heathrow
- 2006: The Airbus A380 makes its first UK landing into a newly built Pier 6 at Terminal 3
- 2007: A new air traffic control tower is operational – the tallest in the UK
- 2008: Terminal 5 is officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in March; The first commercial A380 flight arrives at Heathrow
- 2009: Terminal 4 underwent a major refurbishment to improve facilities
- 2010: Demolition work started on Terminal 2 to make way for its £1 billion replacement which opens on 4 June 2014
- 2014: The brand new Terminal 2: The Queen’s Terminal opened for business on 4 June. The first airline to move in was United Airlines
- 2015: Icelandair moved in to Terminal 2 on 25 March
- 2015: Terminal 1 closed
Ends
Notes to editors:
The latest terminal development plans are on the Heathrow website:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/improving-heathrow
Contacts
SOURCE: LHR Airports Limited
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Heathrow marks 70 years since it officially became a commercial airport