When Was London Airport Renamed Heathrow?

By Alice Nichols

London’s Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, has been known by many names throughout history. However, it was not always called Heathrow. In this article, we will explore the history of London’s primary airport and how it came to be known as Heathrow.

History of London’s Primary Airport

In the early days of aviation, London had several small airports scattered around the city. However, with increasing demand for air travel and larger planes, a new airport was needed. In 1929, construction began on a new airport in the village of Heathrow, located about 15 miles west of central London.

The Early Days

The airport was initially named “Heath Row,” two separate words that referred to a row of houses that had been demolished to make way for the new facility. The first flight from Heath Row took off on May 31, 1946. Initially, the airport served mainly domestic flights within the UK.

Renaming to London Airport

In 1946, the airport was renamed “London Airport” to reflect its growing importance as an international hub. By this time, larger planes were able to take off and land at the airport’s longer runways.

Rebranding as Heathrow

In 1966, after years of confusion caused by having multiple airports with similar names in and around London, it was decided that all commercial flights would be consolidated at London’s primary airport. As a result, a decision was made to revert back to its original name and officially change its name back to “Heathrow Airport.”

Conclusion

So there you have it – how London’s primary airport went from being called “Heath Row” to “London Airport” and finally to “Heathrow Airport.” While the airport has undergone many changes throughout its long history, it remains one of the most important transportation hubs in the world today.