Pictures showcasing some of Heathrow‘s most iconic moments have been revealed as it celebrates its 80th birthday.
This month marks a major milestone for British aviation. The airport welcomed its first passengers on March 25, 1946.
Officially opened as ‘London Airport’ after two years of construction, its first flight in the newly post-war era was a converted Lancaster bomber called Starlight that flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In Heathrow’s first year, 63,000 passengers had taken to the skies, compared to the 84.5million who took flight in 2025 – the airport’s busiest year to date.
Renamed Heathrow in September 1966, the airport has seen many iconic moments in its 80 years of operation, from The Beatles‘ return home from a US tour to England Rugby bringing home the World Cup.
And alongside passenger flights, Heathrow has also become a key departure point for UK exports, helping British businesses connect with global markets around the world.
Ross Baker, Heathrow’s chief customer officer, said: ‘Over the last 80 years, Heathrow has been the backdrop to some of Britain’s most memorable moments – from landmark arrivals and maiden flights, to the everyday reunions that matter most.
‘As we celebrate this milestone, we’re proud of the role it has played in people’s lives, British culture and the UK economy, and remain focused on delivering an airport that serves our customers and the nation for decades to come.’
Hollywood star John Travolta flew his vintage Boeing 707 to 10 countries in 2002 in a campaign to rebuild confidence in airline travel following 9/11
The Beatles board their plane at Heathrow airport for their tour of America in 1964. L-R: Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison and Sir Paul McCartney
Starlight, the first aircraft to fly from London Airport – later renamed Heathrow – is pictured on January 1, 1946
Timeline of memorable Heathrow moments
1946: Tents as terminals and first flights
Early passenger terminals were ex‑military marquees which formed a tented village that was basic but comfortable and equipped with floral‑patterned armchairs, settees and small tables containing vases of fresh flowers.
However, in winter, due to a lack of heating, they could be bitterly cold, and in the summer the walls were removed to allow the breeze to blow through.
In these early stages, passengers walked across wooden duckboards to protect their footwear from the muddy airfield as they reached their aircraft.
1952: Queen Elizabeth II returns home to mourn her father’s death
King George VI died on February 6, 1952 while Princess Elizabeth was on a Commonwealth tour with Prince Philip.
Instantly becoming Queen Elizabeth II upon his death at just 25, she and Prince Philip cut short their trip to Kenya.
She was informed of the news by Prince Philip and became the first monarch to accede to the throne while abroad in more than 200 years.
Pictured: Cars parked and tents used as terminal buildings in the early days of Heathrow airport in 1946
Pictured: Princess Elizabeth returned to England as Queen on February 7, 1952 following the death of her father King George VI. R-L: Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden and Lord Woolton
With the remainder of the tour cancelled, she flew back to the UK the following day and is seen leaving the plane at Heathrow wearing all black.
She was met at the steps of the aircraft by senior politicians and dignitaries, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill, before returning to Clarence House.
1964: The Beatles are mobbed post-American tour
Before 1964, British pop acts almost never succeeded in the United States until The Beatles stepped on a flight from Heathrow.
As they boarded on February 7, 1964 – surrounded by thousands of screaming fans after only one US number one single – Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney embarked on a tour that propelled them from UK heart-throbs to worldwide fame.
Their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show a few days later was watched by an estimated 73million viewers – roughly 40 per cent of the entire US population at the time.
By April of the same year, they held the top five positions on the US singles chart simultaneously.
The Beatles arrive at Heathrow after a successful 10-day tour of America on February 22, 1964
Pictured: This image shows the captain and crew of the first Boeing 747 to land on British soil walking away from the Pan-Am jumbo jet
Their return on February 22, 1964 was celebrated as a triumph not just for music fans but for the entire country, sparking an invasion of British music across the Atlantic.
1970: Heathrow welcomes the first Boeing 747 Jumbo jet to Britain
The 361-passenger Boeing 747 arrived for the first time on British soil in January 1970.
The plane itself had a cruising speed of 625 miles per hour, cutting the journey time to London by 30 minutes.
The B747, dubbed the ‘Queen of the skies’, revolutionised travel as the world’s first twin-aisle plane.
1976: Concorde commercial flights take to the air from Heathrow
Seven years after Concorde’s maiden test flight, on January 21, 1976 the first commercial flights took place, leaving Heathrow for Bahrain at 11.40am.
Inaugural commercial flights of the supersonic airliner Concorde on January 21, 1976 – seven years after its maiden test flight
Prince Charles, pictured with a sling around his left arm, and Princess Dianna at the inauguration of Terminal 4 in 1986
A simultaneous flight also departed from Paris to Rio via Dakar as part of its launch.
One passenger on board the maiden commercial flight was Bob Ingham, a superfan of Concorde who saved for three years to buy his ticket.
Wearing a ‘sunrise’ headdress and silver face paint with white and purple robes, he became a popular figure widely covered in the media.
Fast-forward 47 years and British Airways carried out the final Concorde flight from Heathrow’s Terminal 1.
1986: Prince Charles and Diana open Terminal 4
On April 1, 1986 Prince Charles and Princess Diana opened the airport’s Terminal 4.
The then-Prince had his arm in a sling following a gardening accident in which he hit and broke his index finger while hammering a stake into the ground.
As a result, he struggled to cut the ribbon, and Diana stepped in to steady the scissors as they completed the opening together.
Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks to Claire Pick, the driver of the Heathrow Express train which he travelled on when he officially opened Heathrow Express
The moment attracted considerable media attention and humanised the formalities traditionally associated with the royal family.
1998: Tony Blair officially opens rail link to Heathrow
Prime Minister Tony Blair officially opened the Heathrow Express, a new high-speed rail link between the airport and London Paddington station, on June 23, 1998.
Blair spoke to Claire Pick, the driver of the train, part of a privately financed £450million project creating a 15‑minute journey from central London to the airport.
2002: John Travolta flies into Heathrow
In a campaign to rebuild confidence in airline travel following the 9/11 attacks, Hollywood actor and self-confessed ‘airline geek’ John Travolta partnered with Qantas to fly his vintage Boeing 707, which previously belonged to the airline, to 10 countries.
The actor said the moment he was presented with his Qantas golden wings was ‘one of the proudest of my life’, and he took as much pride in them as in his two Oscar nominations.
He was photographed from the cockpit window holding a Union Flag on August, 19 2002 and flew more than 30,000 miles between Auckland, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, London, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt, New York and Los Angeles.
The England rugby squad pose for a photograph with the World Cup at Sydney Airport, as they board the plane – renamed Sweet Chariot – that is bringing them back to London
2003: England Rugby return home victorious
England’s victorious rugby team landed on November 25, 2003 from Sydney after bringing home the World Cup following Jonny Wilkinson’s decisive extra‑time drop goal.
Fans surrounded Terminal 4 to welcome them home, and crowds broke into ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’, despite the team arriving at 4.35am.
The trophy itself had its own seat reserved on the aircraft, with the win considered the country’s greatest sporting achievement since the 1966 football World Cup.
Fans surrounded the team’s coach to welcome their heroes home.
2003: Heathrow becomes home to iconic movie moments
A now-Christmas classic, one of Love Actually’s most memorable scenes was filmed in Heathrow’s Terminal 3 building.
Starring Olivia Olson and Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Joanna and Sam, the pair exchange an innocent and heartfelt moment as he chases her to say goodbye as she boards her flight home.
A scene from the filming of Love Actually at Heathrow in 2003
Queen Elizabeth II officially opens the new Terminal 5, accompanied by Prince Philip, on March 14, 2008
The film opens with real shots of travellers reuniting, as well as a final scene that reunites key characters such as David and Natalie, played by Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon.
2008: Queen Elizabeth opens Terminal 5
Accompanied by Prince Philip, the Queen officially opened Heathrow’s Terminal 5 on March 14, 2008.
Her Majesty addressed 800 guests and described it as a ’21st‑century gateway to Britain’ and declared it ‘ready for business’.
To mark the occasion, a specially commissioned 30‑strong choir performed, with the terminal formally opening to passengers on March 28.
Passengers would go on to vote Terminal 5 as the best airport terminal in the world for several years, cementing its reputation as a benchmark for service and design.
2013: Major milestone at Heathrow as British Airways takes delivery of double‑decker planes
Heathrow became the home base to the Airbus A380 in 2013 as British Airways became the first UK airline to operate the world’s largest aircraft.
BA staff greet the Airbus A380 at Heathrow Airport as British Airways takes delivery of the new double-decker, the world’s largest commercial jet
Team GB’s Tom Daley poses for pictures at Heathrow Terminal 5 after arriving home from the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016
The first and only full‑length double‑deck airliner can fly 500 passengers, and the carrier became the first in Europe to use both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to carry more travellers without increasing flight numbers.
2016: Olympic heroes return home from Rio
Team GB were the first of any Olympic team to surpass the number of medals won on home soil after hosting.
Sixty seven medals were won in Brazil’s second most populous city, beating the 65 secured four years prior at the London 2012 games.
Tom Daley, who won bronze in the Men’s 10-metre synchronised diving event, posed for pictures in Heathrow’s Terminal 5 upon returning home.
Daley made his debut at the 2008 games and later retired in 2024 having secured four Olympic medals in total.
2020: Coronavirus impacts travel worldwide
Following a ban on all non‑essential travel due to the Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, the country went into national lockdown, halting all travel.
A passenger wearing protective gear is seen at Heathrow Airport on May 1, 2020
This year work has begun on the planning application for a third runway at the airport
As a result, Heathrow had to close its doors, operating only essential flights in and out of the country.
With restrictions largely lifted in early 2022, demand rebounded and 2024 saw a recovery to pre‑pandemic passenger levels.
2026: Work begins on the planning application for a third runway at Heathrow
Following Government support in early 2025 and the confirmation of Heathrow’s scheme later that year, new investment was approved to kick‑start work on the planning application for a third runway.
Fully funded by private investment, expansion will deliver more flights and more airlines at Heathrow – meaning greater choice and lower fares for holidaymakers.
