UK. British writer David Larbi has penned a poem to commemorate the 80th anniversary of London Heathrow Airport’s first flight on 31 May, 1946.
The airport’s first Poet-in-Residence, Larbi has written a piece titled ‘Gateway to the World’ (scroll down to read), which has been etched in giant letters into a field near the airport and is visible only to those in flight above.
The TikTok star and Sunday Times bestselling author was given access to the entire airport, spoke to more than 30 colleagues across the operation and listened to the many stories that make up Heathrow’s legacy.
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The poem reflects on British aviation, Heathrow’s role over the past 80 years and the people and infrastructure behind its operations.
The work also explores themes of air travel and Heathrow’s role in connecting millions of passengers around the world.
Larbi said: “For me, the best thing about poetry is bringing people joy and connection – something Heathrow has done in its own way for the past eight decades.
“I’m honoured to be the airport’s first Poet-in-Residence, with an ode that captures Heathrow’s 80-year legacy, the excitement and wonder of air travel and all those who work daily to make Heathrow the incredible place it is.”
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye commented: “For 80 years, Heathrow has been the place where journeys begin, where loved ones reunite and where the UK meets the rest of the world. It has also been a pioneer in the travel industry, setting the standard for exceptional service.
“This year we’re celebrating not only our history, but the humanity that defines every journey through Heathrow – and our continued commitment to delivering an extraordinary airport fit for the future.”
London Heathrow Airport welcomed 63,000 passengers in its first year of operation. Today, the airport serves 230 destinations across more than 80 countries and welcomed 84.5 million passengers in 2025.
In total, more than 2.9 billion passengers have travelled through Heathrow on over 22 million flights since it opened. Its busiest routes over the past eight decades have included New York, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris.
Construction of the runway began in 1944 and the airport officially opened as London Airport in 1946. Over the years, Heathrow has played a key role in UK aviation and international travel.
The airport has marked several notable moments in aviation history, including the arrival of The Beatles in 1964 and the launch of Concorde passenger services in 1976.
When the first non-stop flight to California departed in 1957, a journey to New York could take up to 15 hours, compared with under seven hours today.
Heathrow said it is continuing to focus on improving reliability and the passenger experience as demand for travel grows. The airport added that expansion would support additional routes, airline capacity and terminal improvements.
More than 80,000 people currently work at Heathrow across airport operations and related services.
The Poet-in-Residence initiative forms part of Heathrow’s wider 80th anniversary programme, which also includes virtual reality binoculars featuring archive imagery across terminals, commemorative retail and restaurant offers, and competitions for passengers. ✈
‘Gateway to the World’ by David Larbi
Whenever I’m going to take a flight
I know the conditions are always right
The airport is where possibility lives
I can feel the whole world at my fingertips!
It is where the journey ends and begins
Where terminals, towers and workers are linked
To make sure that above, and on the ground
Each passenger is always safe and sound!
There’s a reason that millions of passengers
On the best and worst days of their lives
Pass through Heathrow in safety and comfort
Trusting that they are safe, here, to fly!
This is a place where we’re more than allowed
To have our heads up in the clouds
It’s truly special, every time we fly
To leave the ground and touch the sky!
Famous, low-key, frequent or rare
However, whenever you take to the air
For eighty years, and for many more
The gateway to the world is these airport doors!
