Heathrow is the world's busiest international airport. Regarded as the hub of the aviation world, over 90 airlines have made Heathrow their base.

Operating hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Total size: 1,227 hectares

Runways: Two
Northern: 3,902 metres long by 45 metres wide
Southern: 3,658 metres long by 45 metres wide

Number of terminals: Five
Terminal 1: opened in 1968, 74, 601 square metres, serving 14.3 million passengers
Terminal 2: opened in 1955, 49,654 square metres, serving 7.5 million passengers
Terminal 3: opened in 1961, 98,962 square metres, serving 18.9 million passengers
Terminal 4: opened in 1986, 105,481 square metres, serving 10.6 million passengers
Terminal 5: opened in 3008, 353,020 square metres, serving 15.6. million passengers

Number of airlines: 93

Number of destinations served: 187

Popular destinations: Amsterdam, Dubai, Dublin, New York (JFK), Paris (CDG)

Aircraft stands: 195 (112 served by an airbridge, 83 remote)

Air transport movements per year: 473,139; daily average of 1,296 

Air cargo per year: 1.4 million metric tonnes

Passengers per year:  66.9 million
- International 91.7% (61.3 million); domestic 8.3% (5.6 million)
- Leisure 65.8% (44 million); business 34.2% (22.9 million)
- Transfer 35% (approx. 23.4 million); non-transfer visiting friends/relatives 34.5% (approx. 23.1 million); non-transfer leisure 31.3% (approx. 20. million)

Passenger profile: AB: 47%; C1: 43%; C2: 7%; DE: 3%

Number arriving and departing per day: Average 183,300 (equal 50:50 split)

Busiest day ever recorded: 1 August 2004, handling 227,284 passengers

Type of passenger: International 91.7%; domestic 8.3%

Total employment: 72,000 (4,385 are BAA staff)

Total jobs sustained by Heathrow across the UK: Approximately 170,000