Heathrow at 80: From tented airfield to global aviation hub

London Heathrow Airport is celebrating 80 years since its first passenger flight in 1946, charting a transformation from a basic post-war airfield into one of the world’s busiest international hubs. Originally opened as “London Airport,” its early days featured makeshift tent terminals and just 63,000 annual passengers. Today, Heathrow handles over 80 million passengers a