Airlines at Heathrow Airport: Who’s Dominating After BA and Virgin?

Heathrow. Britain’s busiest airport, Europe’s reigning traffic champ, and a fortress hub for British Airways. Throw in Virgin Atlantic’s long-haul swagger, and it’s easy to assume the rest are just filling in the gaps. But behind the Union Jack tailfins lies a fierce, fragmented fight for second place.

From transatlantic titans to Gulf giants and sleek European alliances, a surprising number of airlines have carved out serious turf at LHR. And we’re not just talking one daily slot to Zurich. We’re talking full-blown mini-hubs, with packed lounges, back-to-back widebodies, and enough frequent flyer crossover to melt a Silver card.

So, who are Heathrow’s biggest players after BA and Virgin? Let’s break it down region by region.

Note: The weekly flight numbers below are as accurate as possible but may vary slightly by season (summer vs. winter schedules) and day of the week.

The Transatlantic Titans: American, United and Delta

If Terminal 3 had a national anthem, it’d probably be “The Star-Spangled Banner.” That’s because North American airlines are the loudest non-British voices at Heathrow, with American, United, and Delta carving out a transatlantic turf war that’s anything but subtle.

• American Airlines operates about 21 flights weekly on the London–New York JFK route (3 per day). It also serves Dallas/Fort Worth (33 weekly), Miami, and Charlotte, giving AA a strong daily rhythm at Heathrow.
• United Airlines maintains a deep presence, with daily flights to Newark, Washington Dulles, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and Denver, totalling an estimated 50+ weekly flights. It’s a Star Alliance stronghold in Terminal 2.
• Delta Air Lines, while smaller in volume, packs a punch through its joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. It’s 2 daily flights to JFK plus services to Boston and Atlanta, pushing it to 20 weekly flights.

Why It Matters: With millions flying between the UK and the U.S. every year, Heathrow’s transatlantic connections are critical. American, United, and Delta aren’t just filling seats; they’re fuelling Heathrow’s global dominance. JFK–LHR alone saw over 3.2 million passengers in 2023.

Sand, Slots, and Superjumbos: The Middle East Majors

If there’s one region that knows how to command Heathrow airspace, it’s the Middle East, and the numbers are staggering.

• Emirates leads with 6 daily A380 departures to Dubai, 42 flights per week. Dubai is Heathrow’s second busiest international route, with 2.86 million passengers in 2023.
• Qatar Airways now operates 8 daily flights to Doha, totalling 56 weekly services, more than some airlines run across their entire long-haul network.
• Etihad Airways has stepped up to 4 daily flights to Abu Dhabi, giving it a respectable 28 weekly flights, often on 787s and A350s.

Why It Matters: These ME3 carriers now account for over 120 weekly departures out of Heathrow. They’re not just shuttling Brits to the Maldives; they’re key to Heathrow’s long-haul connectivity across Asia, Australasia, and Africa.

Continental Drift: Europe’s Other Flag Carriers

British Airways may have the home-field advantage, but a handful of European giants still elbow their way into Heathrow’s gate-crunched schedule.

• Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels) operates an estimated 60–70 weekly flights combined. Frankfurt and Munich alone see 6–8 daily flights.
• Air France–KLM bring serious numbers: about 6 daily flights each to Paris CDG and Amsterdam Schiphol. Together, they account for 80+ weekly flights, connecting Europe’s key hubs with Heathrow.
• Turkish Airlines keeps Istanbul well-linked with 3–4 daily flights (25–28 weekly), feeding a vast long-haul network.
• Iberia, the Spanish half of IAG, now operates from Terminal 5 and runs 4–5 daily flights to Madrid, offering seamless BA codeshare connections.

Why It Matters: These carriers help Heathrow function as a European super-hub, not just a UK one, and they’re essential for feeding transatlantic and Asia-bound traffic through their respective home airports.

East Side Story: Asia’s Flagships at Heathrow

They may be further away, but Asia’s biggest carriers still treat Heathrow like a VIP stop on their network maps, bringing 5-star service, widebodies, and polished lounges to match.

• Singapore Airlines is the standout here, operating up to 7 daily flights (49 per week) to Changi. It’s easily the most frequent long-haul operator from Asia at Heathrow.
• Cathay Pacific maintains 3 daily flights to Hong Kong (21 per week), often on A350-1000s. HKG–LHR is still a premium-heavy route.
• Japan Airlines and ANA each fly once daily to Tokyo Haneda, totalling 14 weekly flights combined.
• Air India has ramped up post-Tata takeover, now running 2 daily flights to Delhi and 1 to Mumbai, totalling 21 per week.
• Korean Air and Asiana operate 1 daily flight each to Seoul (14 per week combined).
• China Eastern and China Southern have resumed service to Heathrow, but schedules vary; currently, there are several weekly flights each.

Why It Matters: Asian airlines bring fewer total flights compared to U.S. and European carriers, but they punch far above their weight in prestige, premium cabins, and network value, especially for passengers continuing to Australia, Southeast Asia, or onward across the Pacific.

Battle of the Alliances: Who’s Holding Court at Heathrow?

It’s not just airlines competing; it’s their alliances as well. Heathrow might as well be a battleground for Oneworld, Star, and SkyTeam, all jostling for lounge real estate and loyalty cardholders.

Oneworld – The Home Team

Terminals 3 & 5

• British Airways
• American Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Iberia, Finnair, Royal Jordanian

Lounge Game: Galleries, Qantas (shared), Admirals Club, and Qatar Premium Lounge. Oneworld elites eat well here.

Star Alliance – The Quietly Dominant One

Terminal 2 (The Queen’s Terminal)

• United Airlines
• Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels)
• Singapore Airlines
• ANA
• Air India, EgyptAir, South African Airways
• Turkish Airlines

Lounge Game: United Club, Singapore’s SilverKris, and Lufthansa lounges are probably the most consistent quality across terminals.

SkyTeam – The Underdog with Attitude

Terminal 4

• KLM
• Air France
• Korean Air
• China Eastern
• Aeromexico

Lounge Game: Air France/KLM and Korean Air lounges in T4 are a quieter option with occasional surprises.

And Finally… Who’s Really Running the Show (After BA & Virgin)?

Let’s look at the scoreboard. These are Heathrow Airport biggest airlines, excluding BA and Virgin Atlantic, ranked by estimated weekly departures:

Takeaway: Heathrow might be BA’s kingdom, but look closer and it’s also a global stage. From Dubai to Dallas, Singapore to Stockholm, the world’s biggest airlines are all jostling for a space at Heathrow Airport and doing a pretty impressive job of it.

Still Taxiing? Read On:

• Heathrow T3 Now Has Three Lounges From No1 Because One Just Isn’t Enough
• Fast Track Arrivals at Heathrow: Who Actually Needs It?
• Mind the Gap: Heathrow, Edinburgh, and Prestwick Fall Short on Accessibility