| Heathrow airport can be considered one of the | | | | Currently the site has just opened the somewhat |
| oldest airports within the UK, its early use being in | | | | unimaginatively named Terminal 5. The new |
| the First World War as a training airfield for the | | | | terminal has experienced a large number of |
| first military pilots. Military services in terms of | | | | criticisms due to teething problems with the |
| operational sorties were practically non existent | | | | automated baggage system. This new terminal is |
| meaning that the site can almost solely trace its | | | | the home of all the British Airways flights from |
| development as a commercial airport. At its | | | | the airport, representing the kudos that the |
| inception the airfield had six runways in a star | | | | national flyer has at the nation's major airport. |
| shape, a requirement due to the take off | | | | Naturally this terminal will be filled with the usual |
| restrictions of early aircraft. At the time the | | | | car hire desks, shops, cafes and bars so the |
| centrally located terminal was seen as the most | | | | airport authorities can make a greater profit from |
| logical choice but in recent years this central | | | | the transit of passengers. The terminal itself cost |
| location has in fact limited the boundaries of the | | | | around 4.2 billion pounds to construct, a |
| terminal buildings, car parks and car hire lots. | | | | gargantuan figure, but necessary as the facilities |
| Despite this the transport links at Heathrow | | | | there had to cope with the development of the |
| airport are excellent, a direct link to the M25 | | | | new 'giant of the air', the Airbus A380. |
| motorway means that a hire car from Heathrow | | | | While the future of the airport looks set, the |
| can be deemed a great way to see the country. | | | | future of its owning company, the British Airport |
| In terms of passenger numbers, Heathrow | | | | Authority and in turn the Spanish Ferrovial Group |
| annually sees seventy million travellers pass | | | | is not so certain. Recently the company has been |
| through the terminals. Flights from the site span | | | | criticised for holding a monopoly over the air |
| the globe, and the airport remains the | | | | travel within the UK. The claims can be considered |
| predominant airport in the UK for intercontinental | | | | founded when the fact that BAA owns seven of |
| travel. In fact, if the large numbers of international | | | | the major airports in the UK; three of which are |
| passengers is recognised, Heathrow is arguably | | | | Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted. The competition |
| the busiest airport in the world. | | | | commission advised BAA to sell two of the big |
| All of the terminals at Heathrow today are filled | | | | three (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted) as well as |
| with accompanying services such as shops, | | | | one other airport in Scotland. It is not likely that |
| restaurants, car hire desks and cafes. The | | | | BAA will sell Heathrow however, as it handles |
| inclusion of these services is not purely to make | | | | more passengers annually than both Gatwick and |
| life easier for travellers. Thanks to high rents for | | | | Stansted put together it makes more financial |
| these shops and services, the airport authority | | | | sense to hang on to the 'trump card'. |
| can make a tidy profit from letting its terminal | | | | Heathrow has gone from a minor airfield during |
| space. Another benefit of these auxiliary services | | | | the early years of the twentieth century to a site |
| is the employment it brings to the local area. | | | | that is considered by many to be the busiest |
| When the airport staff and retail staff are taken | | | | airport in the world. While the ownership question |
| into account, Heathrow can be deemed one of | | | | seems prevalent currently, it is doubtless that |
| the largest employers in the south of England. | | | | development at the site will continue in the future. |