Heathrow; The World’s Busiest International Airport

Submitted by: Donald Donaldson

A look at how Heathrow is considered the busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger numbers and how car hire services, shops and restaurants all add to the revenue generated at the site.

As with the majority of airports within the UK the origins of Heathrow lie with the military. Heathrow Airport differs from many however in that its operations began during the First and not the Second World War. Fundamentally the site, even though its origins were with the Air Force has always played an important role in supporting commercial air services. However, the initial development of the airport, taking place in the nineteen thirties after the decline of the nearby Croydon site has in fact seriously restricted any future expansion plans. In these early years of aviation planes needed many runways set out in a star to allow for takeoff in any wind; unfortunately, the central location of the terminal between runways means that if expansion is to occur, it must be done outside of the airport site. In the modern era, Heathrow is the country’s busiest airport with terminals filled with shops, restaurants and car hire desks.

The first planners of Heathrow did not factor in passenger cars and car hire services into the structure. At this time air travel was still extremely expensive and the reserve of the rich and famous, as such no car parks were built in the belief that passengers would all arrive in chauffeur driven limousines. However, once air travel became cheaper, airport planners soon realised the benefits of adding Heathrow into the expansive British road network, allowing for faster onward travel.

The proximity of the M25 London ring road to Heathrow airport means that travellers either using a private vehicle or a hire car are granted easy access not only to the capital but also to many destinations throughout Britain. Millions of passengers use the airport in any one year and as such a range of services such as hotels, car hire desks and conference centres have been built up to accommodate the needs of travellers. It is down to these services that Heathrow has become a major employer in the local area, employing thousands of local residents and Londoners.

Most recently the site has seen the opening of Heathrow Terminal 5, and even though it has experienced some rather high profile teething problems it remains an extremely advanced and modern air travel building. The purpose of Terminal 5 is to host all of the British Airways flights at Heathrow whilst housing a variety of services such as car hire and eateries. As with all of the other terminals at Heathrow Airport, it has links to both the national road network as well as the London underground and over ground rail services. As with every other airport terminal in the modern world the revenue generated through the hosting of car hire desks, shops and restaurants is an important financial component. Additionally with the huge number of international flights, Heathrow being the busiest airport in the world in terms of international passengers, the opportunity to make a profit from the needs of tourists and business operatives is clearly evident.

Heathrow airport is truly a world leader in terms of passenger numbers and flight movements. It is the most important link in the UK’s air transportation network and as such handles more passengers annually than the next two busiest airports put together. While expansion at the airport is limited due to its star shaped design, it is through clever and innovative use of space that the site will continue to grow and develop.

About the Author: Airport Expert, Donald Donaldson, takes a look at Heathrow; the world’s busiest international airport.

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