Having scooped ACI's Eco-Innovation Award, as well as being nominated Best Airport in the over 25m passenger category, Heathrow airport has plenty of reasons to celebrate at present.
The awards come on the back of a record-breaking year for the airport, which saw it process 73.4m passengers and log its highest-ever passenger satisfaction scores. These plaudits further acknowledge the significant improvements that Heathrow has executed in terms of environmental management: these have included a sound laboratory, showing how new aircraft will be less noisy; specially constructed buildings; outdoor learning spaces; a car share scheme and a hydrogen refuelling facility.
In addition to these achievements, the airport also today celebrates its 70th year of commercial flights. Since May 31 1946, over 20m flights have taken off from Heathrow's runways, carrying some 2bn passengers around the world in the process. During this time, the Concorde made its first (1976) and last (2003) passenger flights, the Airbus A380 made its first UK landing (2006), and the jewel in Heathrow's crown, Terminal 5, was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen (2008).
