View source for Heathrow Terminal 3

{{Short description|Airport terminal at London Heathrow Airport}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox building
| name                = Heathrow Terminal 3
| alternate_names     = The Oceanic Terminal
| image               = Forecourt of Heathrow Terminal 3 (geograph 6090219).jpg
| caption             = Entrance to the departures area at Terminal 3
| map_type            = United Kingdom Greater London
| building_type       = [[Airport terminal]]
| architectural_style =
| structural_system   =
| cost                = 
| address             = 
| client              = [[Heathrow Airport Holdings]]
| owner               =
| current_tenants     = 
| landlord            = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|51.470833|-0.46|region:GB|display=it}}
| start_date          =
| est_completion      = 
| inauguration_date   = 13 November 1961
| renovation_date     = 1987–1990<br />2007
| demolition_date     = 
| destruction_date    =
| height              =
| diameter            =
| floor_count         =
| floor_area          = 
| main_contractor     = 
| architect           = 
| architecture_firm   =
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer   = 
| civil_engineer      = 
| other_designers     = 
| awards              =
| references          = 
| public_transit   = {{Unbulleted list 
   | {{rail-interchange|london|elizabeth}} {{rint|london|heathrowexpress}} [[Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 railway station]]
   | {{rail-interchange|london|Piccadilly}} [[Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 tube station]]
   | {{bus icon|10px}} [[Heathrow Central bus station]]
   }}
}}

'''Heathrow Terminal 3''' is an [[airport terminal]] at [[Heathrow Airport]], serving London, the capital city of the [[United Kingdom]]. Terminal 3 is currently used as one of the main global hubs of the [[International Airlines Group]] members [[British Airways]] (alongside Terminal 5) and [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]] since 12 July 2022. It is also used by the majority of members of the [[Oneworld]] and a few [[SkyTeam]] alliances along with several long-haul non-affiliated airlines. It is also the base for [[Virgin Atlantic]].

==History==
[[File:Heathrow Airport 010.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport.]]
[[File:Terminal 3 arrivals hall. London Heathrow airport - geograph.org.uk - 435493.jpg|thumb|Terminal 3 arrivals area]]
[[File:Heathrow Terminal 3 departures 2025.jpg|thumb|Terminal 3 departures area]]
Terminal 3 was opened as the Oceanic Terminal on 13 November 1961; it was built to handle flight departures for long-haul routes.<ref name="BAA History">{{cite web |url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/facts-and-figures/heathrow%27s-history |title=Heathrow's history |publisher=Heathrow Airport |accessdate=27 January 2013 |archive-date=2 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102124652/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/facts-and-figures/heathrow%27s-history |url-status=dead }}</ref> Renamed Terminal 3 in 1968, it was expanded in 1970 with the addition of an arrivals building. Other facilities added included the UK's first moving walkways. BOAC and the two US airlines, [[Pan American World Airways]] and [[Trans World Airlines]] (TWA), dominated operations at the terminal throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1969 the terminal was renovated to handle the new [[Boeing 747]] which was introduced to the airport on 23 January 1970. In 1990 Pan American sold its Heathrow landing rights to [[United Airlines]] around the same time TWA sold them to [[American Airlines]].

The terminal was refurbished between 1987 and 1990 at a cost of £110&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Transport|location=London|publisher=City Press Limited|volume=11|page=151}}</ref> In 2006, the new £105&nbsp;million Pier 6 was completed<ref name="nqaheu">{{cite news|title=Debut A380 flight lands in London|work=BBC News |date=18 March 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7301455.stm|accessdate=19 March 2008}}</ref> to accommodate the [[Airbus A380]] superjumbo; Emirates and Qantas now operate regular flights from Terminal 3 using the Airbus A380. Redevelopment of Terminal 3's forecourt through the addition of a new four-lane drop-off area and a large pedestrianised plaza, complete with canopy to the front of the terminal building, was completed in 2007. These improvements were intended to improve passengers' experiences, reduce traffic congestion and improve security. As part of this project, Virgin Atlantic was assigned its own dedicated check-in area, known as 'Zone A', which features a large sculpture and atrium. As of 2013, Terminal 3 has an area of {{convert|98962|m2|sqft}}.<ref name=Facts>{{cite web|url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/facts-and-figures|title=Heathrow facts and figures|publisher=Heathrow Airport|accessdate=27 January 2013|archive-date=15 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015011346/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/facts-and-figures|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Heathrow Airport Limited also has plans for a £1 billion upgrade of the rest of the terminal over the next ten years{{when|date=May 2018}} which will include the renovation of aircraft piers and the arrivals forecourt. A new baggage system connecting to Terminal 5 (for British Airways connections) is currently under construction. In addition to the baggage system, the baggage claim hall is also set to undergo changes with dedicated A380 belts and an improved design and layout.<ref name="Ref_y">{{cite web|url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=12d6b6c0100c0110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&ChID=10b35109350d3110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&Ct=B2C_CT_PRESS_RELEASE&CtID=a22889d8759a0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&ChPath=Home%5EHeathrow%5EHeathrow+press+releases|title=BAA Heathrow unveils plans to re-develop Terminal 3|publisher=BAA Plc|accessdate=1 December 2008|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207055321/http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=12d6b6c0100c0110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&ChID=10b35109350d3110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&Ct=B2C_CT_PRESS_RELEASE&CtID=a22889d8759a0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&ChPath=Home%5EHeathrow%5EHeathrow+press+releases|archivedate=7 December 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], all flights from Terminal 3 and 4 were suspended and flights temporarily moved to Terminals 2 and 5. The railway and tube station remained open to serve Terminal 2.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-20|title=Coronavirus - Covid-19 {{!}} Heathrow|url=https://www.heathrow.com/customer-support/faq/coronavirus-covid-19|access-date=2020-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620190937/https://www.heathrow.com/customer-support/faq/coronavirus-covid-19|archive-date=20 June 2020}}</ref> The terminal was reopened for use by Virgin Atlantic and Delta on 15 July 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-05|title=Britain's Heathrow Airport reopens Terminal 3 ahead of travel pick-up|newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-heathrow-airport-reopens-terminal-3-ahead-travel-pick-up-2021-07-05/|access-date=2021-08-09}}</ref>

==Usage==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2018}}
The main presence in Terminal 3 is Virgin Atlantic. American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Iberia, and Qantas are the other major users of the terminal. This terminal is mainly reserved for long haul flights. British Airways, Finnair and Iberia are the only short haul airlines flying from this terminal. With the closure of Terminal 4 Air France and KLM operated from Terminal 3 during the downturn in traffic at the airport during the pandemic. Both airlines moved back to join their fellow SkyTeam members at the reopened Terminal 4 in March 2023.

===Oneworld===
Terminal 3 is used by the majority of the members of the [[Oneworld]] airline alliance: [[American Airlines]], <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/destinationInformation/lhr-airport.jsp | title=London Heathrow, United Kingdom (LHR) }}</ref> [[Cathay Pacific]], [[Finnair]], [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]], [[Japan Airlines]], [[Qantas]], [[Royal Jordanian]], and [[SriLankan Airlines]]. [[British Airways]], which mainly uses [[Heathrow Terminal 5|Terminal 5]], also offers some flights from this terminal. As of 12 July 2022, it is one of the global hubs of the [[International Airlines Group]] after Iberia moved in from [[Heathrow Terminal 5|Terminal 5]]. However it is not used by [[Malaysia Airlines]], [[Royal Air Maroc]] and [[Qatar Airways]] (all Terminal 4 only). 

===SkyTeam===
Four [[SkyTeam]] member airlines use Terminal 3: [[Aeroméxico]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[China Airlines]] and [[Virgin Atlantic]]. Delta moved all flights to Terminal 3 on 14 September 2016 to ease connections with partner [[Virgin Atlantic]].

===Non-aligned===
The principal non-aligned airline is [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]]. The other non-aligned airlines include [[Beijing Capital Airlines]], [[Iran Air]] and [[LATAM Brasil]]. During the pandemic, new airlines [[Rwandair]] and [[Vistara]]  began flights from this terminal. On 19 March 2024, Rwandair announced that it would operate flights to and from Terminal 4.<ref>{{cite web |title=RwandAir to move its operations to Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport starting April 3, 2024. |url=https://www.rwandair.com/media-center/news-press-releases/rwandair-to-move-its-operations-to-terminal-4-at-heathrow-airport-starting-april-3-2024/#:~:text=Kigali%2C%2019%2C%20March%202024%20RwandAir,travelling%20to%20and%20from%20Rwanda. |website=www.rwandair.com}}</ref>

===Star Alliance===
Today, no Star Alliance airlines use Terminal 3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/which-terminal.|title = Which terminal &#124; Heathrow}}</ref> Most Star Alliance airlines now use [[Heathrow Terminal 2|Terminal 2]].

In the past, a number of [[Star Alliance]] airlines used this terminal: [[Air Canada]], [[Air China]], [[All Nippon Airways]], [[EgyptAir]], [[Ethiopian Airlines]], [[EVA Air]], [[Scandinavian Airlines]], [[Singapore Airlines]], [[Thai Airways]], and [[Turkish Airlines]].

==Ground transport==
===Inter-terminal transport===
Terminal 3 is connected by an underground walkway to Terminal 2. Terminals 4 and 5 can be reached by the free [[Elizabeth line]] or [[Heathrow Express]] rail service. [[London Underground]] services can also be used to transfer to Terminals 4 and 5 (the former requiring a change of train at [[Hatton Cross tube station|Hatton Cross]]) free.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/travel-between-terminals|title=Travel between terminals - Heathrow|publisher=|access-date=14 July 2014|archive-date=13 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213002718/http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/travel-between-terminals|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In addition, numerous buses ply between the Central Bus Station (for Terminals 2 and 3) and the other terminals. However, using the train service is much quicker and easier for passengers with luggage.

===Road links===
As part of the two central terminals at Heathrow, it is linked to the [[M4 motorway]] via the M4 spur road and through a tunnel under the north runway.

===Rail links===
{{Heathrow Airport Terminals 2 & 3 rail services|origin=Terminal 3|sharedwith=[[Heathrow Terminal 2]]}}

===Bus links===
Terminal 3 is accessible to both bus and coach services from [[Heathrow Central bus station]].

There are also several coach services operated by [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] operating to other London airports such as [[Gatwick Airport|Gatwick]], [[Stansted Airport|Stansted]] and [[Luton Airport|Luton]]; and other cities in the United Kingdom.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Heathrow Terminal 3}}
*[http://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/terminal-3 Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 <small>(official web page)</small>]

{{London Heathrow Airport}}
{{International Airlines Group}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:London Heathrow Terminal 3}}
[[Category:Heathrow Airport|3 London Heathrow Terminal 3]]
[[Category:Heathrow Airport Holdings]]
[[Category:Airport terminals]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures at Heathrow Airport|Terminal 3]]
[[Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 1961]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in England]]