London Heathrow Airport is situated in a London Borough of Hillingdon. It is the busiest airport in United Kingdom and 5th in world, but by the numbers of international passengers serviced first by a length. It is also busiest in European Union by passenger traffic and second by traffic movements. It is located 22km from the centre of London, has two parallel main runways spanning east-to-west and four operational terminals. Fifth terminal was opened in 2008 by the Queen Elizabeth II herself and the whole territory of airport is 12.14 square kilometers. Heathrow Airport is also hub for British Airways, BMI and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Heathrow is used by over 90 airlines companies, which fly to over 170 different destinations all over the world. 11% of passengers travel using domestic flights, 43% fly short-haul international and 46% long-haul international flights. Busiest airline overall is to New York with 3.7 million passengers in 2008 and 3.5 in 2009. About Heathrow’s overall 67 million annual passengers this makes 5.5 %.
Over the time, airport has expanded a lot and is being removed at the moment as well. Terminal 1 will be demolished in years to make room for expansion of Terminal 2. A large and complex reorganizing of terminals was done in 2008, trying to fit companies belonging to same alliances together as much as possible to ease the management for both companies and travelers.
Heathrow airport is accessible via car by M4 and M25 motorways plus A4 and A30 roads. To ensure the arrival to right terminal, make sure before going that which road connects to which terminal to avoid unpleasant surprises. To get to Heathrow Airport or to leave it, a car hiring is possible. Among the possibilities well-known international companies like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Alamo, Europcar, and Sixt are available.
