The largest and busiest airport in Britain is London Heathrow Airport, as you are undoubtedly already aware.
Heathrow, formerly London Airport, is situated in the London Borough of Hillingdon and is part of the Metropolitan Green Belt. It is 23 km west of central London. It does, however, include a great deal of history, secrets, and interesting facts.
You’re probably unaware of what goes on in the background to keep things operating well when you’re travelling for work or pleasure. We’ll provide you with some interesting information about Heathrow airport.
The biggest airport in the United Kingdom is Heathrow
Heathrow is the biggest of London’s six international airports, covering 1,227 hectares with six terminals and two runways. It is used by 84 airlines. Three thousand nine hundred metres, or 78 Olympic swimming pools, make up the length of the northern runway.
At least 219,458 people left Heathrow every day in 2018, out of a total of 80.1 million passengers. The airport handles 1.7 million metric tonnes of cargo annually in addition to passengers. 76,000 workers are employed within the airport’s confines.
The airport filed three additional designs for development during the Airports Commission’s assessment of airport capacity in southeast England. By constructing a third runway, the airport intends to increase both its cargo and passenger traffic capacities by twofold.
New York continues to be the most sought-after location
The majority of foreign passengers leaving Heathrow Airport are going to New York, with Dubai, Dublin, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong following closely after. Every day, the Concorde operated flights from London Heathrow to New York (JFK), covering the distance in just three hours and thirty minutes.
Terminal 1 is not present
The first terminal does not exist, despite the fact that you may have seen signage for Terminals 2, 3, 4, and 5. On June 29, 2015, after 47 years of operation, it was shut down with a British Airways aircraft to Hanover, Germany.
All flights operating out of Terminal 1 have been moved to Heathrow Terminal 2 as of 2014. Plans for the future entail the development of Terminal 2 and the destruction of Terminal 1.
It features an online control panel
Can you envision a situation in which Heathrow’s control tower was rendered inoperable? Heathrow, however, has a workaround: a virtual backup system prepared to take control and manage as many as 70% of the airport’s flights.
Unlike the large tower overlooking the airport, VCFs (Virtual Contingency Facilities) are windowless and located distant from the airfield. It functions in dense fog, when the controller cannot see the aircraft from the tower, using the same technology and radio communication as the control tower.
VIP rooms at the upscale terminal
Few may know that the Royal Queen has her own unique and distinct terminal at Heathrow Airport. It appears on the south side of the airport, but viewers are unable to visit it due to security concerns. The Royal Suite is only available for use by celebrities, members of the House of Windsor, royals, and public authorities. The total cost for each individual is £1,500.
The enigma of the abandoned camo-green plane
Maybe you have seen a big green plane that has been camouflaged for years sitting on an airstrip. It looks to be falling apart and doesn’t have any windows. This metal piece is used by Aircraft Rescue Firefighters as practice for handling burning aircraft; in the worst case scenario, they let off the flames. It is a vital component of aviation safety instruction and is continually in use.
Terminal 5 has a ghost rail station under it
Beneath the bustling departure gates of Terminal 5, there is a distant rail station. The station, which is currently untracked, was constructed in 2008 as a component of Terminal 5, opening the door for potential rail links to Heathrow. There is enough for 33 London buses in this empty spot.
Covert cargo terminal
Each year, Heathrow, the largest port in the UK in terms of revenue, carries over 140,000 tonnes of Christmas freight, or 66 London Eyes. Its cargo terminal, which connects to Terminals 2 and 3, is located near to the southern runway.
The airport is a major supplier of essentials for Christmas celebrations around the world, with snow ploughs and blowers, felt hats, walnuts, rose bushes, and Christmas tree exports all rising in preparation of Christmas.
Additionally, components for the Terracotta Warriors, the International Space Station, and pricey supercars valued at £850,000 are included on the list. To make sure she was as comfortable as possible, Lola the hippo took a shower prior to her 2012 voyage.
Breakfast is the meal of choice for travellers
Though there are many of eateries, including cafés, restaurants, and eating lounges, travellers still choose breakfast over other meals. Maybe this explains the early morning traffic at Heathrow!
A total of 7 million eggs, 5.4 million bacon rashers, 1100 bottles of champagne, 7 million croissants, 27,000 cups of tea, and 40,000 cups of coffee are supplied every day at Heathrow Airport.
What made Chanel N° 5 so popular?
It’s likely that you were unaware that the World Duty-Free store at Heathrow only stocks one Chanel N° 5 bottle every five minutes.
Heathrow: The Heart of Travel & The Choice of Travellers
You now know all of the fascinating details and insider information about this well-known airport. If you want to learn how to get about London Heathrow, you should read our in-depth guide. Make sure you use a prompt airport transfer service to enhance your comfort during your travels. We hope you will enjoy the benefits of being in the busy centre and have a safe and memorable travel through it. Happy travels!
