Editing Heathrow Airport (section)

=== Terminal 3 ===
[[File:Heathrow Airport 010.jpg|thumb|[[Heathrow Terminal 3|Terminal 3]] [[bird's-eye view]]]]
{{Main|Heathrow Terminal 3}}

Terminal 3 opened as the Oceanic Terminal on 13 November 1961 to handle flight departures for long-haul routes for foreign carriers to the United States and Asia.<ref name="BAA History">{{cite news|url=https://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/company-information/our-history|title=Our history|publisher=Heathrow Airport Holdings|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713211238/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/company-information/our-history|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> At this time the airport had a direct helicopter service to central London from the gardens on the roof of the terminal building. 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 walkway]]s. 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|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321183007/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7301455.stm|archive-date=21 March 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> to accommodate the [[Airbus A380]] superjumbo; [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] and [[Qantas]] operate regular flights from Terminal 3 using the Airbus A380.

Redevelopment of Terminal 3's forecourt by the addition of a new four-lane drop-off area and a large pedestrianised plaza, complete with a canopy to the front of the terminal building, was completed in 2007. These improvements were intended to improve passengers' experience, reduce traffic congestion and improve security.<ref name="Ref_y">{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/baa-heathrow-unveils-plans-to-re-develop-terminal-3-155771575.html|title=BAA Heathrow unveils plans to re-develop Terminal 3|publisher=BAA|date=15 February 2007|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625163412/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/baa-heathrow-unveils-plans-to-re-develop-terminal-3-155771575.html|archive-date=25 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of this project, [[Virgin Atlantic]] was assigned its 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|abbr=on}} with 28 gates, and in 2011 it handled 19.8{{nbsp}}million passengers on 104,100{{nbsp}}flights.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/company-information/facts-and-figures |title=Heathrow facts and figures |publisher=Heathrow Airport Limited |access-date=23 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705154826/http://www.heathrowairport.com/about-us/company-news-and-information/company-information/facts-and-figures |archive-date=5 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Most flights from Terminal 3 are long-haul flights from North America, Asia and other foreign countries other than Europe. Terminal 3 is home to [[Oneworld]] members (with the exception of [[Malaysia Airlines]], [[Qatar Airways]] and [[Royal Air Maroc]], all of which use Terminal 4), [[SkyTeam]] members [[Aeroméxico]], [[China Airlines]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[Middle East Airlines]], [[Virgin Atlantic]], and several long haul unaffiliated carriers. [[British Airways]] also operates several flights from this terminal, as do [[Iberia]] and [[Vueling]].