Currently, Heathrow airport has 5 different terminals and although there were plans to build a very controversial 6th terminals and corresponding 3rd runway, these plans have now been shelved by the new coalition government in the UK.

Terminal 1 is the oldest terminal and the original terminal for the initial Heathrow Airport. It currently serves the airline bmi and all airlines under the star alliance. Terminal 1 is due to be closed in a few years to make room for an expansion of Terminal 2. Terminal 2 is currently under construction and is expected to reopen in 2014. It will then be expanded with the new section opening in 2019, adding vast new capacity to Heathrow Airport.

Terminal 3 was opened in 1961 and specialises in handling long-haul flights. It has also had lots of construction work done on it in order to support the Airbus A380 – the first airport in the country now capable of handling this super-jumbo. Terminal 4 was opening in 1986 and is connected to the previous terminals by the Heathrow Cargo Tunnel. This terminal is home to all airlines operating under the SkyTeam alliance and a few unaffiliated carriers. It has recently been upgraded to help support Airbus A380 flights and to support more carriers. The newest terminal out of the lot is Terminal 5 which was opened very recently in 2008 and hit the headlines featuring massive delays and teething problems within its first week of opening. Terminal 5 is used solely by the British flag carrier airline, British Airways, to make their flights from.