In 2025, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) was ranked the world’s most connected airport by OAG (a leading data provider for the travel industry). This is the third year in a row that Heathrow has taken this position.
London: Heathrow Airport – Airport Scenery © Lewis Clarke
London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport is located west of London and is the largest and busiest international airport in the United Kingdom.
LHR also acts as a major global hub for long-haul and short-haul flights to over 200 destinations across 84 countries. It is the main hub for British Airways and it is also an important base for Virgin Atlantic, due to around 80 airlines operating from this airport.
Figures show that 63.3 million passengers travelled with this airport, between Jan. and Sept. 2025 – 200,000 more than last year. With high punctuality, LHR was named Europe’s most punctual major hub, with over 97% of passengers clearing security in under 5 minutes.
Thomas Woldbye, Chief Executive Officer, said:
Operating Europe’s largest airport doesn’t come without its challenges, but I’m proud that our team delivered under pressure – welcoming nearly 7.4 million passengers in September alone while maintaining strong performance in punctuality and security.
Heathrow’s High Connectivity
Heathrow’s top ranking is measured by several different factors including:
- Daily flight options
- A range of international routes
- Strong connections to Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East
- Five passenger terminals that support high traffic
On an average day, Heathrow handles around 1,300 take-offs and landings. This high frequency enables passengers to make many connections, which is a key metric in OAG’s ranking system, as it is based on scheduled flight data. This measures statistics such as the number of direct destinations, and the frequency of flights.
According to OAG:
Over the past decade, the number of international destinations served at LHR has grown by 24%, underscoring its position as a leading hub for global travelers.
Cargo and Economic Impact
Heathrow is also a major cargo airport, that processes over 25% of the UK’s total exports. It handles high-value exports, live animals, and specialist equipment such as aerospace parts, making it a critical gateway for British trade and international supply chains.
As the UK’s largest single-site employer, Heathrow supports tens of thousands of jobs. Its operations contribute significantly to the national economy through tourism, trade and investment.
A view of the London skyline at dusk © Ilya Grigorik
Heathrow is the main entry point for many international visitors. Easy access to London encourages millions of tourists each year to visit the city. This enables support for local museums, theatres, shops and other attractions. Therefore, tourism linked to Heathrow has generated billions of pounds for London’s economy annually. In just 2023, Heathrow generated £13.1 billion for the UK via trade, tourism and hotels.
Do you believe LHR to be an important airport? Let us know in the comments down below!
