Larbi’s poem, titled Gateway to the World, isn’t displayed in a book, a terminal, or even online. Instead, it has been etched in giant letters into a field near Heathrow, designed to be visible only from above.
That means the only way to experience the poem in full is from the skies through the windows of an airplane, a fitting tribute to a place defined by travel, perspective, and possibility.
This tribute transforms a simple flight path into something more reflective, giving passengers a rare moment to pause and connect with the journey beneath them.
To create the piece, Larbi was given behind-the-scenes access to Heathrow’s entire operation. He spoke with more than 30 colleagues across the airport, gathering stories that reflect the people, infrastructure and emotion behind every flight.
The result is a poem that celebrates:
· The wonder and excitement of air travel.
· The human connections that define journeys.
· Heathrow’s role as a global hub of possibility.
· The dedication of the thousands who keep it running.
As Larbi puts it:
“The best thing about poetry, for me, is bringing people joy and connection, something Heathrow has done in its own way for the past eight decades.”
The poem arrives as we reflect on a remarkable milestone here at Heathrow.
From humble beginnings, just 63,000 passengers in our first year, the airport has grown into one of the world’s busiest and most connected hubs:
· 2.9 billion passengers have travelled through Heathrow since 1946.
· Over 22 million flights have taken off and landed.
· Today, it connects 230 destinations across 80+ countries.
· In 2025 alone, Heathrow welcomed 84.5 million passengers.
Over the decades, we have been the backdrop to defining moments in aviation history and culture, from welcoming The Beatles in 1964 to pioneering Concorde’s supersonic flights in 1976.
For Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye, the anniversary is about more than statistics:
“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.”
That human element is central to the airport’s story, from emotional reunions at arrivals to the anticipation of departures, supported by more than 80,000 people working across the airport today.
While celebrating our past, we are also focused firmly on the future.
As one of the world’s most connected airports, now operating at full capacity, expansion remains a key priority, aiming to:
· Unlock new routes.
· Increase airline choice.
· Improve passenger experience.
· Deliver more efficient and reliable journeys.
