ONE OF THE BUSIEST AIRPORTS in the world lies just 14 miles west of Central London. London Heathrow Airport, the busiest in the United Kingdom, served more than 78 million passengers in 2017. In 2018 more than 80 million passengers passed through the airport.

The hub for British Airways, Heathrow might be the busiest airport around, but it also makes regular strides to improve the community and environmental well-being of those impacted by airport operations.

Heathrow’s community location puts it smack-dab in the middle of Hillingdon Borough. Over the years, the increase in air traffic volume through the airport has also increased the problem of noise for those who live nearby. Though the noise nuisance persists, awareness of the issue has become ingrained in the way the airport operates. Heathrow instituted a Fly Quiet and Green program to encourage airlines to take further steps independently to reduce noise and environmental impacts. Since the 1970s traffic doubled at Heathrow, but noise decreased by a factor of 10. The airport places tough restrictions on flights arriving at and departing from Heathrow, especially on night flights.

To maintain a positive reputation among the locals living around Heathrow and those in the aviation industry, the airport enforces strict guidelines for airlines flying through the airport. When an airline breaks a noise or operations restriction, Heathrow collects a fine. Those fines combine with money directly donated by the airport to benefit the community living around the site.

As part of the facility’s noise action plan through 2023, airport officials conducted research on the impact of prolonged noise on residents in the area. The results showed poor sleep hygiene, impacts to cardiovascular health, lowered cognitive development and higher levels of general annoyance. The airport makes continuous progress to improve the well-being of locals as well as the passengers and employees of the airport.

Incentives for quiet and green aircraft are a big hit. According to a recent statement from Heathrow Airport, the year following implementation of sustainability incentives was the greenest — and quietest — year on record. More modern aircraft, like Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, are coming into Heathrow.

The incentives caused a ripple effect, as airlines that often fly through Heathrow are taking steps to modernize their fleets and take part in the rewards for flying green and quiet.

The airport looks to the future with an expansion on the horizon. In 2018 the British Parliament voted for the expansion of Heathrow which, if all goes well, will boost growth throughout the United Kingdom