London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow Airport codesLHREGLL, located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the largest airport in the United Kingdom. It is the fourth busiest airport in the world (Worlds busiest airports by passenger traffic) in terms of total passenger traffic and it handles more international passengers (Worlds busiest airports by international passenger traffic) than any other airport in the world. It is also the busiest airport in the European Union in terms of passenger traffic (Worlds busiest airports by passenger traffic) and the second busiest in terms of traffic movements (Worlds busiest airports by traffic movements), second to Paris CDG (Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport) airport in Paris, France. The airport is owned and operated by BAA (BAA Limited), who also own and operate five other UK airports, and is itself owned by ADI Limited, an international consortium, which includes Caisse de d�p�t et placement du Qu�bec and GIC Special Investments (Government of Singapore Investment Corporation), that is led by the Spanish Ferrovial Group (Ferrovial). Heathrow is a primary hub (Airline hub) for BMI (BMI (airline)), British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Located convert12NMlk=in west of Central London, Heathrow has two parallel main runways spanning east-to-west and five operational terminals (Airport terminal). The site covers convert12.14km2. Terminal 5 (London Heathrow Terminal 5) was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom) on 14 March 2008 and opened to passengers on 27 March 2008. Construction of a new Terminal 2 complex to replace the terminal building and adjacent Queens Building began in 2009; the first phase is expected to open in 2014. Terminals 3 and 4 underwent major refurbishments that began in 2007 and were completed in 2009. In November 2007 a consultation process began for the building of a new third runway and a sixth terminal and it was controversially approved on 15 January 2009 by UK Government ministers. The project was then cancelled on 12 May 2010 by the Cameron Government (Cameron Ministry).

Heathrow Airport has a CAA (Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)) Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P527) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.