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Heathrow Airport; Always Accommodating The Largest Aircraft

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:10:55 +0000

In the UK, the largest and busiest airport is London’s Heathrow; even in the world it is considered to be the third busiest and in terms of international passengers, the busiest. Because of the numbers of international passengers travelling through, the site is a place where it is possible to see people of nearly every nationality in the world. Understandably companies have not missed the profit making opportunities of such a cultural melting pot, taking advantage by building shops, car hire desks, restaurants and cafes within the terminals.
As with the majority of airports in the UK, Heathrow can trace its first use to the military. Unlike many sites however, Heathrow was being used during the First World War as an airbase that predominantly tested new developments on a variety of aircraft. At this stage the majority of the civilian aviation needs of the capital were catered for at the Croydon site. Now Croydon is a small and unused airfield, during the twenties and thirties however it was one of, if not the, major UK airport. After the Second World War however Croydon lost its position of primacy, and instead the Heathrow site took the number one position. Heathrow was heavily developed during the war years and hence, once the conflict was over, was more suited to the large planes that had been developed.
Heathrow has always been at the forefront of catering for the largest civilian planes in existence. During the fifties the Queen laid the first slabs of the new runway, built to cater for the new jet planes that would so rapidly change the aviation industry. A new runway meant that a new terminal had to be built to accommodate larger passenger numbers. At this stage however most designers believed that air travel would be reserved for the wealthy, subsequently no provisions were made for car parking as it was believed that most passengers would be chauffeured to the airport. Today however it is different, car parks at Heathrow are massive and the large number of hire car companies proves that air travel is now the pursuit of the masses.
The seventies saw further development of Heathrow, once again the runways were extended to accommodate the huge Boeing 747s that were now traversing the world. In addition however the terminal was further developed with covered runways and docking legs in order for passengers to have a stress free transition from terminal to plane. Also during this period Heathrow improved its transport links to the centre of London. A station was built that connected directly to the London Underground while additionally an overhead rail link that pulls into Paddington Station was also built.
With the introduction of the new gargantuan Airbus A380, Heathrow has once again been at the forefront of accommodating the largest passenger planes. Part of this accommodation has meant an expansion of the terminals and docking ports. As well as this however, recently the site has seen a fifth terminal being added; this terminal will purely service the aircraft flying for British Airways. Naturally this new terminal will contain all of the shops, restaurants, and car hire desks that come as standard in the modern airport.
Current estimates place the average annual passenger numbers at around the seventy million mark. This is approximately double the number of any other airport in the UK. Understandably, the airports position of primacy is somewhat assured. However, the airport executives will have to remain up to date on aircraft developments in order to cater for the largest and most modern aircraft.

The Development And Expansion Of Heathrow Airport

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:16:11 +0000

Heathrow Airport, although starting its life as a small First World War military airfield never actually saw active service in either world wars. Strangely, unlike many of the airports in the UK it can trace its development as an airport almost solely used for commercial purposes. After a huge expansion when the centrally located terminals were built Heathrow was heralded as the airport of the future, ironically, it is the central location of the terminals, hemmed in by runways that now restrict its expansion. This has not stopped the terminals themselves being built upon however, they now incorporate restaurants, shops and car hire desks to make the traveller’s experience more comfortable.
Originally the airport planners presumed that the majority of people flying from Heathrow would be arriving in chauffeur driven cars; not realising that air travel would be opened up to the mass public as it became cheaper. These brilliant road links however have had a benefit in other ways; car hire companies have been able to tout the airport as the ideal destination to begin a trip of Britain.
Heathrow is the UK’s busiest airport and as such millions of people pass through it from nearly every country in the world. Due to the large numbers of people always in the terminals, commercial centres have arisen providing travellers with all manner of services, from coach companies, car hire businesses and major high street shops selling everything from electrical goods to fashion items. Because of the commercial interest Heathrow employs thousands of people from the surrounding area, not just in terms of shop staff but also those who work for the airlines and those involved in the maintenance of the airport.
Heathrow’s proximity to the M25, one of the major motorways in the UK means that by road it is possible to reach anywhere in the country quickly and easily. The M25 acts as a hub to many destinations in the UK, the West Country and the Southeast are easily accessible but journeys can also be made to the Midlands, the North and even Wales. Understandably, car hire companies and coach trip operations are more than happy to exploit these road links.
Although it has experienced a number of teething problems, the latest addition, Terminal 5 is designed to be the most modern and efficient of all the terminals at the airport. Nearly all of British airways flights are now located in the terminal meaning that the company now has its own terminal in the UK’s busiest airport. It was opened this year in early March although a full schedule was not operated from the terminal until April due to problems with the advanced automated baggage handling system. Once again transport links to the terminal have been a major part of the development with rail and road links making for rapid transit from London or anywhere else in the country.
The chances for profit in this new terminal are immense. As with many airports the courting of business customers has been a considerable effort, making sure they are supplied with sufficient parking and car hire provisions as well as comfortable waiting lounges has been the major method of attracting this custom.
The future of Heathrow is somewhat assured, it is unlikely it will lose its mantle as the UK’s major airport although other airports, especially those serving London are also expanding. Of these Stansted is in the running to gain a second runway and increase its air traffic, despite protests from local residents. Airport expansion is a large issue at the moment with many of the UK airports producing expansion plans, one thing is certain, as these airports expand, the accompanying services will continue to grow and employ many workers from all around the world.

Heathrow Airport; Enjoying A Position Of Primacy For Sixty Years

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:10:38 +0000

The UK’s largest and busiest airport is Heathrow and in terms of the world it is the third busiest globally. Being the UK’s premier airport Heathrow has more international passengers pass through it than any other airport in the world, it is a melting pot of cultures and nations who are all there for one reason; air travel. Its preferential position so close to the centre of London has helped in its development as servicing the capital is one the most important functions performed by Heathrow airport. Combine this with the employment provided by auxiliary services such as restaurants, shops and car hire desks and its influence is immense. But what was the involved in this airports meteoric rise?
Most airports in the UK began their life as a military airfield and Heathrow is no different. During the First World War it was a military airbase although rather than sorties it was predominantly used as a research and development centre. The nearby airfield of Croydon was where the majority of London’s civil air operations were conducted although after the war Croydon lost its primacy and Heathrow took its place. This shift in primacy was due to the fact that the Second World War saw heavy development at Heathrow making it a far more suitable airport for civilian travel; especially when the size of the newly developed planes is considered. After the war, the civilian use of the Heathrow site was reaffirmed.
The Queen was present at the laying of the first runways at Heathrow; this development was due to the widespread use of the jet plane and its encroachment into civilian spheres. The new runway meant further development of the terminal; once again this was ceremonially opened by the Queen. At this stage air travel was predominantly reserved for the rich and famous, so much so that the original designers of the Heathrow site expected all travellers to be chauffeur driven and hence no car parks were built. This was soon realised not to be the case and hence a large number of car parks were built to accommodate passenger vehicles and car hire provisions.
The seventies saw Heathrow install the world’s first powered walkways to reduce the stress of passengers; a device now widely used in all airports across the planet. As planes grew so did the airport to accommodate the largest of commercial flyers. At this time it was the Boeing 747 although today the site has made special preparations for the use of the gargantuan Airbus A380. While Gatwick can boast the first direct rail link to London, Heathrow eventually caught up and in 1977 built an extension that coupled straight onto the existing London Underground network. As well as the underground links, the site also has an overland route that leaves from Paddington Station regularly.
At this point in time Heathrow was secured as the largest airport in the UK; this primacy was increased in the eighties when the airport saw thirty million passing through a year. During this period the site also added a fourth terminal purely for the use of British Airways planes, a company that has always had a preferential arrangement with the airport’s management. The new terminal made the most of car hire provisions, shops, cafes and restaurants to extract further profits from the site.
Today nearly seventy million passengers use the airport on an annual basis. As a result of increased numbers a fifth terminal has been added. Development at the site is set to continue although other airports are being expanded to relieve some of the pressure on Heathrow, namely Stansted in Essex. As one of the world’s busiest airports in the world however it is doubtful that any airport in the UK will be able to match Heathrow’s size and capacity in the foreseeable future.

Heathrow Airport; Ideal Hub For Travel Around Britain

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:34:54 +0000

Heathrow airport began its life as a small military airfield during the First World War, after this original period it never saw active service as an RAF airport and can trace its heritage almost solely as a commercial airport.
Strangely the layout has found itself limited by the centrally located terminals, due to the fact that airport planners originally thought passengers would be arriving in chauffeur driven cars. The subsequent large public car parks have placed a strain upon use of space making car hire a brilliant way to get to and from the airport.
Having such brilliant transport links car hire from Heathrow airport is the ideal way to enter the country. Being one of the busiest airports in the world, and the busiest airport in terms of international travellers, the airport is in a perpetual state of bustle with all manner of peoples passing through the terminals daily. With flights to almost anywhere in the world it is the major hub airport of Britain with many UK airports offering link flights for destinations further a field.
Heathrow Airport like many airports today is a commercial centre that is filled with shops and restaurants as well as travel related industries such as car hire companies. Heathrow can be seen as a major employer in the area providing jobs for not only those in the local area but many commuters from London. Its proximity to London makes life easy for commuters with a direct rail link into the city.
Heathrow Airport actually lies inside the M25 and has brilliant links onto the London ring road. From Heathrow the use of a hire car can take you to anywhere in the country. The M25 acting as a gateway to the West Country, East Anglia the Southern coast and the North. With so many trunk roads branching out from the M25 it is truly the hub of the British road network and makes use of a hire car simple and efficient.
Heathrow is currently building a large new terminal christened somewhat boringly as Terminal 5. It is set to open in March 2008 and will have the usual accompanying travel links as car hire desks, bus stops and its own train station. Predominantly, the eventual aim is for the terminal to house the majority of British Airways flights, ultimately making the terminal solely BA focussed.
The terminal is expected to cost the princely sum of 4.2 billion pounds but airport bosses will be clinging to the hope that it comes in under budget and on schedule. The new terminal will also have to cater for the gargantuan Airbus A380 with special concourses and docking facilities.
One thing is certain; with a host of businesses in fields such as retail, hospitality and car hire the chances for profit will be immense. Even the world renowned shops Cartier and Harrods are looking into creating outlets in the terminal to provide premier shopping for more privileged passengers.
The future of Heathrow Airport is not completely sparkling though; it is believed that the two operating runways are currently running at ninety eight percent capacity meaning even with the new Terminal, flight slots will still be in high demand.
Its mantle as the airport with the most international passengers is believed to be surpassed by France’s Charles De Gaulle Airport by the year 2010, as it is only currently operating at seventy four percent capacity. Of course the new generation of larger airplanes will ease the strain but Heathrow must still consider another runway if they hope to remain as profitable.